Capps, Brut team models of consistency, qualify No. 3 in Brainerd

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 16 of 23
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
Brainerd (Minn.) Int'l Raceway
Race Date: Aug. 11-13, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

CAPPS, BRUT TEAM MODELS OF CONSISTENCY, QUALIFY NO. 3 IN BRAINERD

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 12, 2006) - Ron Capps, crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch
and the Brut Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team are looking to earn the Full
Throttle award presented by NHRA for the team most consistent in qualifying
at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals (results will be announced Sunday morning.)

They are certainly in the running after posting four stout qualifying runs
to earn the No. 3 spot for Sunday's eliminations: a 4.920-second pass at
303.71 mph, followed by a 4.850/315.27, his quickest lap of 4.778/316.15,
and finally a 4.855/319.22.

"The Full Throttle award is always a big deal," said Capps, the NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader. "It's important for the
crew guys and the crew chiefs as a reward for consistency. At the same time
you're looking at the Skoal Showdown (a bonus event held at U.S. Nationals
in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend) points because we're getting down to
two races left for that. We're in the field pretty much guaranteed, but you
always want to move around in the positioning, and we only have Memphis
left.

"Ace this morning almost had his race face on for qualifying, in the sense
that he really wanted to move up in position and get after the car, and he
was making some big changes. It was cool. We rolled up there and ran a 4.77.
Everybody was ecstatic, so that's what we need to do every race.

"The conditions are changing so much; there's a chance of rain one minute,
then it gets hot. (Team consultant) Dan Olson and Ace are making a great
team right now and I feel so confident in the car, but you know how Sundays
are. 

"We have Bob Gilbertson (who took Capps out in the first round in Denver)
again. Those guys are my buddies, but all bets are off when it comes to
Sunday."

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