Capps deals with tricky track, qualifies No. 12 in Ohio

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 8 of 23
PONTIAC PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS
NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY
HEBRON, OHIO
Race Dates: May 20-22, 2005


HEBRON, Ohio (May 21, 2005) - Ron Capps dealt with a tricky drag strip at
National Trail Raceway today to qualify No. 12 in the Brut Dodge Stratus
Funny Car after four rounds of qualifying for the NHRA Nationals, the eighth
round of the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

The first two rounds on Friday were less than spectacular, including a
9.374/89.02 and a 6.149/197.94 pass. Today's third session, under sunny but
cool conditions, resulted in a 4.925/310.84, which held through the next
round (5.496/183.42) for No. 12.

"It was a tricky weekend," said Capps. "Making that one shot this morning
was the key. We really went after it, we wanted to get up to the top five in
the last shot. 

"I can't fault Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) and (co-crew chief Dan) Olson
at all for wanting to do that. We didn't want to be in the bottom half of
the field, but the track's been tricky. And both lanes have been tricky so
we didn't accomplish that and we don't have lane choice tomorrow.

"There are a lot of great match-ups in the first round . Points-wise,
there's going to be some interesting match-ups, so we just have to keep our
head to the grindstone, focus, go rounds, race the track, and every other
cliche that applies."

Did the track improve today? "I think the crew chiefs just got more of a
handle on it. It's very tricky. It's got spots that are pretty good and then
right after that there's a spot not so good, and another spot that's OK.
It's hard to get these cars to go that quick down this track."

Capps faces Phil Burkart Jr. in the first round of eliminations, which begin
at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Other interesting match-ups include Eric Medlen and
Del Worsham; Gary Scelzi and Tony Pedregon; and John Force and Tony Bartone.