Weather in Reading still an issue for FC points leader Capps and Brut Revolution team
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POOWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 20 of 23 TOYO TIRES NHRA NATIONALS Maple Grove Raceway Mohnton, Pa. Race Date: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net WEATHER IN READING STILL AN ISSUE FOR CAPPS AND BRUT REVOLUTION TEAM MOHNTON, Pa. (Sept. 27, 2006) - It was only two weeks ago that the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway were re-scheduled because of rain to this coming weekend. But the weather remains the No. 1 topic of conversation and concern for points leader Ron Capps and the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team as they return to Pennsylvania. And it's not the possibility of rain again so much as it is the temperature. Temperatures in the Northeast are predicted to barely reach 60 degrees all weekend. While teams often wish for cooler conditions to help increase the performance of their 7000-plus-horsepower machines, it can sometimes get too cold. Following the conclusion of this weekend's event outside of Reading, Pa., the teams travel to Richmond, Va., for the 21st of 23 season events. "Maple Grove is going to prepare us for Virginia," said Capps, who is enjoying a 37-point lead over second-place John Force following the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas on Sunday, "because it's going to be most likely cold there too. "The crews often thrive on the cool conditions at this time of year, but there's also a point where it gets too cold. It's similar to when a track is too hot. It poses a whole new problem, trying to figure out the Goodyear tire in the cool conditions. Not even cool, cold conditions, I should say." The face on the battle for the Funny Car championship has suddenly changed, as Robert Hight has now joined the fray in third place, 93 points behind Capps, following his two consecutive victories. "The cold conditions will change the approach for everyone," said Capps. "It's another curve ball thrown at the crew chiefs, especially at Ace (Capps' crew chief Ed McCulloch), Austin Coil (Force's crew chief) and Jimmy Prock (Hight's crew chief), the guys battling for a championship right now. "It's going to be very interesting," added Capps, who also receives support from Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels. "You're going to have to be on your toes." Capps is still dizzy from his first-round triumph over Force in Dallas on Sunday, earning him 20 valuable points on Force as the championship chase comes down to these last four events of the season. "The round 1 win over Force was, as I said before, epic," he said. "Up to that point that was probably the biggest round of my career personally and I had probably the least amount of sleep I've ever gotten on a Saturday night. "Prior to that run, I wasn't doing so good. My stomach was a little tied up and Ace grabbed me by both shoulders and stood in front of me and told me not to worry, that this first round certainly wouldn't be the end of a championship for either team, but it was surely going to set the pace. And those were his exact words. He was about three inches from my face with both hands on my shoulders. It was a pretty neat moment." Capps is looking for his first Funny Car championship following three runner-up career finishes, and has never won a Funny Car event at Maple Grove Raceway. RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS: * Leads 2006 Funny Car point standings after 19 events, 37 points ahead of John Force * Has five wins, three runner-up finishes, two semifinal finishes in 2006 so far * Qualified No. 9 at 2005 Toyo Tires Nationals, lost first round to Robert Hight * Has never won at Maple Grove, but had runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000 * Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first win for DSR in '05), won at Chicago 2 at Route 66 Raceway and Las Vegas 2 * 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title * Qualified No. 1 once in 2005, in Dallas; first time since Brainerd 2000 * 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, 2000 and 2005 * He has 22 event wins in 45 final rounds to his credit (21 national event wins in Funny Car, one in Top Fuel) * His career-best elapsed time (established during an event) is 4.694 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas * His career-best speed is 329.02 mph (Chicago 2, '05) * Age 41 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif. * Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (10) and son Caden (4) * Is featured, along with son Caden and the Brut racing crew, in a number of Brut ads appearing in mainstream magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, etc. * New to Don Schumacher Racing in 2005 after eight years with Don Prudhomme. * Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models and Go-Karts * Is the subject, along with teammate Tony Schumacher, in the new behind-the-scenes TV series, American Dragster, airing on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, Sept. 29, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1 and 4 p.m. SATURDAY, Sept. 30, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. SUNDAY, Oct. 1 Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, Sept. 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 4 p.m. (ET). Sunday, Oct. 1, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 12:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Oct. 1, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, Sept. 29, 7 7:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 02K (11749.5 MHz, vertical) analog Saturday, Sept. 30, 7 7:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 02K (11749.5 MHz, vertical) analog Sunday, Oct. 1, 7 7:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 02K (11749.5 MHz, vertical) analog ***