Capps pedals to first-round loss in Bristol

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 6 of 23
O'REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NHRA NATIONALS
BRISTOL (Tenn.) DRAGWAY
Race Dates: April 29-May 1, 2005

BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 1, 2005) - Ron Capps helped entertain the fans for the
second time this year today, in a pedaling match against a different John
Force teammate. In Phoenix this year he won a smoke-filled quarterfinal
round against Robert Hight. Today he lost to Eric Medlen in the first round,
at the O'Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Capps took off first the starting light in the Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car,
posting a .095 reaction time to Medlen's .104. Both cars, however, struck
their tires at the hit of the throttle and it was a pedalfest to the finish,
as heavy tire smoke blocked the view for fans and competitors alike. When it
cleared, Medlen was awarded the victory, with a 9.209/178.78 pass to Capps'
losing 9.804/187.00.

His wealth of oval and road-racing experience (IROC testing, Formula Ford)
didn't work for Capps today. "We were fourth pair, and the pair in front of
us was Cruz (Pedregon) and Force, and I saw them both go up in smoke and
start pedaling it. I thought to myself, Boy, we didn't have lane choice,
this could be one of those runs where you're going to have to be on your
game and be ready to pedal the car. And sure enough, both Eric and I did.

"He did a wonderful job of getting his going. I was having a hard time
breaking the clutch loose and getting the tires to hook up. I was grabbing
brake, and everything I could.

"I got to win that kind of round in Phoenix and I was on the losing end of
this one. We obviously have a problem that we're trying to fix. When it
smokes them that early, you're a sitting duck. But my job is to win those
kind of races and I failed to do that and I need to figure out why I
couldn't get the car hooked up better.

"We need to take advantage of these situations at those times."

Capps is now eighth in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points.

Next up is the NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., May 13-15.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Whit Bazemore, 433
2. John Force, 375
3. Cruz Pedregon, 375
4. Gary Scelzi, 370 (winner today)
5. Robert Hight, 360
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 319
7. Eric Medlen, 308
8. Ron Capps, 294
9. Bob Gilbertson, 292
10. Del Worsham, 280