Capps aims to make up lost ground in Dallas

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 20 of 23
O'REILLY NHRA FALL NATIONALS
Texas Motorplex
Dallas, Texas
Race Dates: Sept. 23-25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

CAPPS AIMS TO MAKE UP LOST GROUND IN DALLAS

DALLAS (Sept. 21, 2005) - Ron Capps and the Brut Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car
team are still recovering from their first-round loss at Reading, Pa., which
might have been prevented had they been able to have four qualifying rounds.

When one is in the midst of a tight championship chase, these setbacks can
be killers. But Capps and crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch have bitten the
bullet following the NHRA's decision that prevented them from qualifying in
Reading on Friday night because of an erroneous call, and are ready to roll
at this weekend's O'Reilly NHRA Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

"I know that Ace has always been good at channeling his energy towards
making the car run better, and there have been times when he's been
aggravated about something and taken it out on the race track several times
that I've been around him," said Capps, who fell from third to fifth in
points after that race.

"That part excites me. Obviously, the part that hurts the most about Reading
is that we left there a little worse than when we got there. If you can't
make up any ground, you surely don't want to lose any, and we did lose some.

"But, on the bright side, there are 16 rounds of racing left," he said of
the four races remaining in the season. "And, as we've seen this year,
anything and absolutely anything can happen.

"There's another hurricane which looks like it's heading to Texas, and that
puts a little different perspective on qualifying, if the storm indeed comes
through Dallas.

"Texas Motorplex is a place that I always look forward to. It's great that
it is one of the races that is going to be crucial in the points chase,"
added Capps, who is now 82 points out of the lead. "Having these two races
in a row (Dallas and Chicago) right after Reading also helps, especially
having to wait only a few days before getting back in the car after what
happened in Reading.

"To still be in the championship battle, and, by all means, we're still
right in the thick of it, is also a thrill," said Capps, who is seeking his
first Funny Car crown. "We had a hiccup in Reading, but this team is too
good to stay down."

SCHEDULE:      
On Friday, Sept. 23, professional qualifying sessions are at 4:30 and 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, pro qualifying continues at noon and 3 p.m. On
Sunday, Sept. 25,  pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m., while final
eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:     
On Saturday, Sept. 24, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 4 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Sept. 25, ESPN2 will televise two
hours, 30 min. of final eliminations at 11 p.m. (ET).

RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* Fifth in 2005 Funny Car point standings, after 19 events, 82 points out of
the lead
* Has one win, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first win
for DSR in '05)
* At the 2004 O'Reilly NHRA Nationals, Capps qualified 11th, lost first
round to Cruz Pedregon
* Has one Funny Car win here, in 1998 1, No. 1 qualifier here in 1997 2
* 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 15 event wins in 35 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 (established during an event) 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)
* Age 40 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
* Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (8) and
son Caden (3)
* 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.
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt
Late Models and Go-Karts

***