Capps turns a string of 4.7-second runs into No. 10 at Pomona

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
ROUND 1 OF 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals
POMONA (CALIF.) RACEWAY
RACE DATE: FEB 9-12, 2006



POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2006) - Last year's Funny Car championship
runner-up Ron Capps turned four nearly mirror-image laps of 4.788/319.60,
4.787/314.75, 4.776/318.92 and 4.778/318.92 into a No. 10 qualifying spot
for the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at the Auto
Club Raceway today.

Despite these stout runs, the driver of the Brut Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car
was disappointed, but also stoic.

"We really wanted to concentrate on qualifying better this season and we
felt like that would be good enough to put us up in the top half," he said.
"Tenth is not where we want to be. A lot of teams would be happy with 10th,
but we're not. But, I always feel good on Sunday morning, so I could be
16th, for what it's worth.

"Everybody here always feel like we have a shot at winning. We're not
satisfied with 10th over here. The bummer part is we're not in the top half,
so it doesn't give us lane choice tomorrow. If something happens with the
Top Fuel dragsters going first, like an oildown, it's crucial to have lane
choice. 

"But then, look at last year here at the Finals. We fought down to the last
race for the championship and didn't have lane choice here first round. And,
with all the pressure, we still won in the other lane.

"Like I said, Sunday morning is a whole new day. If you make it to Sunday
and you've got the Brut crew guys I've got, and (crew chief) Ed McCulloch,
we can win it from anywhere. We have the confidence. It's just that we
wanted to move up in the Skoal Showdown points a little bit more. We'll just
work on it. 

"You have to put it all behind you and I'm having a hard time doing that.
It's like playing golf and having a bad hole, and I'm trying to forget about
it."

Capps faces Tim Wilkerson in first round of eliminations on Sunday, in the
fastest Funny Car field in NHRA history. All three DSR Funny Cars are on one
side of the ladder, all three John Force Racing cars are on the other side.