Tight FC battle moves to Richmond as Capps aims to erase
one-point deficit
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 21 of 23
TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS
Virginia Motorsports Park
Dinwiddie, Va.
Race Date: Oct. 6-8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
TIGHT FUNNY CAR BATTLE MOVES TO RICHMOND AS CAPPS AIMS TO ERASE ONE-POINT
DEFICIT
DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 3, 2006) - Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
driver Ron Capps is braced for another barn-burner of a Funny Car
championship battle, as he and John Force head to Virginia Motorsports Park
this weekend for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals entrenched in a
see-saw battle for the crown. Force holds a meager one-point lead over Capps
following Sunday's race in Reading, Pa.
With just three events remaining in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series, Force teammate Robert Hight is also in the mix, following two wins
and a runner-up finish in the last three events. He is just 35 points behind
Force, 34 in back of Capps.
Last year, Capps' teammate Gary Scelzi, Capps and Force were in a scuffle
for the title, which went down to the final race. Scelzi won his first
championship by eight points over Capps. Force came in third. Capps is
aiming for his first Funny Car title following three runner-up season
finishes.
This weekend's event, sponsored by DSR team sponsor Torco Race Fuels, will
mark the first held at this venue - located just south of Richmond, Va. -
since 2000, which should make it a level playing field for all.
"I used to love coming here," said Capps, who was runner-up against Force at
the last NHRA pro event held here in 2000. "I tell you, it couldn't be
better for Knoll Gas and Torco Race Fuels because this event has been thrown
right in the middle of a points race.
"It's a place we haven't been to in a long while, so it's kind of an unknown
as far as the track surface is concerned. But it's the same for everyone.
"The crew chiefs will have to see when they get here. I drove Top Fuel here
as a rookie, and we had pretty good success here in Funny Car.
"Everybody is also watching the weather. We expected to see cooler
conditions in Virginia in October. At this point, it looks like there could
be warm weather."
Capps' goal is to regain the Funny Car points lead, which he relinquished in
Reading on Sunday by losing first round. "I always feel very confident with
(team consultant) Dan Olson and (crew chief) Ace (Ed McCulloch). What
happened in Reading is just something you have to put behind you. It's like
playing golf. If you dwell on how bad you played hole one, you're not going
to play hole two very well. We just have to concentrate on making our next
race the best we can do. It's exciting right now; it's going to be a lot of
fun."
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* Second in 2006 Funny Car point standings after 20 events, one point behind
John Force
* Has five wins, three runner-up finishes, two semifinal finishes in 2006 so
far
* Was Funny Car runner-up here against John Force in last NHRA pro event
held at Virginia Motorsports Park in 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, Oct. 6 - Professional Qualifying Sessions at 3 and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 7 Professional Qualifying Sessions at noon and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 8 Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. Final Eliminations begin at 11
a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Oct. 7, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute
magazine show at 12:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 8, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations
at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, Oct. 6, 9-9:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 16K (12092.5 MHz,
Vertical)
Saturday, Oct. 7, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 16K (12092.5 MHz,
Vertical)
Sunday, Oct. 8, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 16K (12092.5 MHz,
Vertical)
Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro
Stock, plus interviews with qualifying leaders on Saturday and winners on
Sunday.
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