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NHRA: New Camaro FC Body for Prudhomme in Seattle

28 July 1999

CHEVROLET NEWS

Prudhomme Racing to Intro New Camaro 
Funny Car Body in Seattle

        SEATTLE; July 28, 1999:  Don Prudhomme Racing, with driver Ron
Capps, will introduce an all-new '99 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 body and a new
Victory-built chassis at the Prolong Northwest Nationals this weekend (July
30-Aug. 1), the 13th round of the 22-event 1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing
Series.  The Copenhagen Camaro team's new body is the second to appear on
the circuit, following the impressive debut of Chuck Etchells' '99 Kendall
Oil/Superwinch Camaro at Bandimere Speedway in Denver two weeks ago, where
driver Whit Bazemore advanced to the final round.
        "We're encouraged with Whit's performance in Denver," said Larry
Kubes, NHRA car program manager, GM Motorsports/Engineering.  "Even with a
couple of cylinders out, Whit was able to keep the Camaro pretty much on
course, especially on the slippery surface.  I hope that the Seattle track
is hot and 'greasy,' so that both of these bodies can demonstrate their
capabilities."
        "It's always nice to drive a new car," said Capps.  "We'll make
some laps at Woodburn (Ore.) today and tomorrow, then we'll go to Seattle
where we've always run well.  At this point in the season, we're basically
throwing out everything from the first half of the season and starting over
fresh.  Of course, we're looking for more downforce."  Capps is the
Northwest Nationals defending Funny Car champion.  He claimed his third win
of the '98 season here, and the fifth for the Camaro body.
        "A lot of the initial development on the new body was done with the
Prudhomme team in the General Motors wind tunnel last year," added Kubes,
"and everyone running a Camaro body has benefited from that.  We have two
of the most capable Funny Car teams performing well, and we expect they'll
rise to the challenge in Seattle.  With Prudhomme's new chassis we expect
that the team will improve its repeatability and ease of setting up the
car, and the new Camaro body should help the downforce on a slick track."
        "Helping level the Funny Car playing field and enhancing the
Camaro's performance on the dragstrip is important to Chevrolet," said Jim
Campbell, Chevrolet Camaro Brand Manager.  "The Camaro has always been
popular among the gearheads and drag-racing enthusiasts, and they have
responded overwhelmingly to our presence in this sport.  We felt we needed
a new body that would maintain the brand equity and integrity of the
production vehicle that would also provide the downforce necessary to get
the car down the track.  We feel we have achieved that and, with continuous
development, it will only get better."
        Capps, 34, of La Costa, Calif., earned his first career win at
Seattle International Raceway in 1995, driving a Top Fuel dragster.  
        Bazemore, 36, of Indianapolis, is the 1997 Funny Car title winner
here.
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