CAPPS LOOKS TO PARLAY THREE ATLANTA RUNNER-UP FINISHES INTO A WIN
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus
COMMERCE, Ga. (May 10, 2005) - Ron Capps' Atlanta Dragway racing record includes three runner-up finishes: in 1995 (Top Fuel), 2000 and 2001 (Funny Car). He'd like to parlay those results into his first victory here in this weekend's NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh round of the 23-event 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The Southern Nationals event is also the start of a six-race countrywide sweep in seven weeks for the driver of the Brut Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car and his competitors. The NHRA teams will travel to Columbus, Ohio, Topeka, Kans., Chicago, Englishtown, N.J., and St. Louis, Mo., with one weekend off in between before they're rewarded with two off weekends.
"For whatever reason a win has always eluded us here," said Capps. "Two of those runner-up finishes were with Ace (Ed McCulloch, Capps' crew chief this year) as my crew chief, so I'm excited about returning here again with Ace. Of note is the fact that, as a former Funny Car driver, McCulloch is second only to John Force in the number of wins at the Southern Nationals. He's won three times - in 1986, 1988 and 1990.
"It's a track where we've seen everything from national records being set to it's being so hot and so humid that nobody could get down the track without having to pedal the car," Capps remarked. "The weather right now looks like it's going to be pretty warm. However, I think with the current NHRA rules in place (tires, rev limiter and 85 percent nitromethane), it's going to make for really good racing.
"We're really impressed by the lack of oildowns recently - not to jinx anybody - but the shows have really gone well the last two races. So going to Atlanta where it could be really tricky and really humid, it will be hard on the crew chiefs and the crews as far as setting the car up and very difficult for a driver to be in the mindset to be ready for anything.
"Friday night is going to be a very, very important qualifying run. Our plan, as always, after Ace, (co-crew chief Dan) Olson and I talked, is to make a great run on Friday afternoon, which will put us near the back of the pack on Friday night so we could go after a good qualifying spot. We don't need to have another nail-biter like in Bristol last week," he said, referring to making the field on points after not qualifying in the one round held because of rain. "Getting into the Skoal Showdown this year is also one of our goals."
Only the top eight in Skoal Showdown points, which are based on qualifying results, are eligible for the special money event, and Capps is 10th at this stage of the season.
"This weekend is going to be the beginning of our sixth race in seven weeks," he added. "In the blink of an eye we'll be in St. Louis and we'll be about to have six races under our belt. This could make or break a team as far as a points run. You could be in St. Louis on Sunday night saying, Well, we sure had a great six weeks, moved way up in the points, or vice versa. You really have to have everything lined up, just have to have your act together for these next six races."
SCHEDULE:
On Friday, May 13, professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 14, pro qualifying sessions continue at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 15, pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
On Saturday, May 14, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 7 p.m. (ET). On Sunday May 15, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, May 15, ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* Eighth in 2005 Funny Car point standings, after six events
* At the 2004 NHRA Southern Nationals, Capps qualified 15th, lost first round to Whit Bazemore
* Runner-up three times in Atlanta: 1995, 2000, 2001; has never won here
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995.
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998 and 2000
* He has 14 event wins in 31 final rounds to his credit
* In 2003 he finished in the top 10 in the Funny Car class for the seventh consecutive season.
* His career best elapsed time is 4.753 seconds, set in 2003 at Chicago 1
* His career best speed (established during an event) is 324.75 mph (Las Vegas 1 '04)
* Lives in Carlsbad, with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (8) and son Caden (3)
* Daughter Taylor competes in NHRA's Junior Dragster class.
* Is the subject, along with son Caden and the Brut racing crew, of a number of Brut ads appearing this year in mainstream magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, etc.
* New to Don Schumacher Racing this year after eight years with Don Prudhomme.
Contact: Judy Stropus
COMMERCE, Ga. (May 10, 2005) - Ron Capps' Atlanta Dragway racing record includes three runner-up finishes: in 1995 (Top Fuel), 2000 and 2001 (Funny Car). He'd like to parlay those results into his first victory here in this weekend's NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh round of the 23-event 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The Southern Nationals event is also the start of a six-race countrywide sweep in seven weeks for the driver of the Brut Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car and his competitors. The NHRA teams will travel to Columbus, Ohio, Topeka, Kans., Chicago, Englishtown, N.J., and St. Louis, Mo., with one weekend off in between before they're rewarded with two off weekends.
"For whatever reason a win has always eluded us here," said Capps. "Two of those runner-up finishes were with Ace (Ed McCulloch, Capps' crew chief this year) as my crew chief, so I'm excited about returning here again with Ace. Of note is the fact that, as a former Funny Car driver, McCulloch is second only to John Force in the number of wins at the Southern Nationals. He's won three times - in 1986, 1988 and 1990.
"It's a track where we've seen everything from national records being set to it's being so hot and so humid that nobody could get down the track without having to pedal the car," Capps remarked. "The weather right now looks like it's going to be pretty warm. However, I think with the current NHRA rules in place (tires, rev limiter and 85 percent nitromethane), it's going to make for really good racing.
"We're really impressed by the lack of oildowns recently - not to jinx anybody - but the shows have really gone well the last two races. So going to Atlanta where it could be really tricky and really humid, it will be hard on the crew chiefs and the crews as far as setting the car up and very difficult for a driver to be in the mindset to be ready for anything.
"Friday night is going to be a very, very important qualifying run. Our plan, as always, after Ace, (co-crew chief Dan) Olson and I talked, is to make a great run on Friday afternoon, which will put us near the back of the pack on Friday night so we could go after a good qualifying spot. We don't need to have another nail-biter like in Bristol last week," he said, referring to making the field on points after not qualifying in the one round held because of rain. "Getting into the Skoal Showdown this year is also one of our goals."
Only the top eight in Skoal Showdown points, which are based on qualifying results, are eligible for the special money event, and Capps is 10th at this stage of the season.
"This weekend is going to be the beginning of our sixth race in seven weeks," he added. "In the blink of an eye we'll be in St. Louis and we'll be about to have six races under our belt. This could make or break a team as far as a points run. You could be in St. Louis on Sunday night saying, Well, we sure had a great six weeks, moved way up in the points, or vice versa. You really have to have everything lined up, just have to have your act together for these next six races."
SCHEDULE:
On Friday, May 13, professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 14, pro qualifying sessions continue at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 15, pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
On Saturday, May 14, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 7 p.m. (ET). On Sunday May 15, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, May 15, ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* Eighth in 2005 Funny Car point standings, after six events
* At the 2004 NHRA Southern Nationals, Capps qualified 15th, lost first round to Whit Bazemore
* Runner-up three times in Atlanta: 1995, 2000, 2001; has never won here
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995.
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998 and 2000
* He has 14 event wins in 31 final rounds to his credit
* In 2003 he finished in the top 10 in the Funny Car class for the seventh consecutive season.
* His career best elapsed time is 4.753 seconds, set in 2003 at Chicago 1
* His career best speed (established during an event) is 324.75 mph (Las Vegas 1 '04)
* Lives in Carlsbad, with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (8) and son Caden (3)
* Daughter Taylor competes in NHRA's Junior Dragster class.
* Is the subject, along with son Caden and the Brut racing crew, of a number of Brut ads appearing this year in mainstream magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, etc.
* New to Don Schumacher Racing this year after eight years with Don Prudhomme.
posted by David @ 7:29 PM
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