Capps loses a heartbreaker in Pomona quarters

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2007 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 1 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.)
Race Date: Feb. 8-11, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2007) - Ron Capps continued to demonstrate the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger Funny Car's quick and fast prowess today in eliminations for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Despite his loss to Jeff Arend in the second round, he added two more quick runs to his and crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch's weekend resume: a 4.728-second elapsed time at 331.61 mph in his first-round victory over Bob Gilbertson, and a consistent yet imperfect 4.765/320.66 pass in the quarterfinal, won by Jeff Arend on a holeshot with a 4.768/324.05.

"It's most disappointing because I never got to get it to the finish line," said Capps, who qualified No. 3. "This Brut Dodge Charger has driven so well and stayed in the groove and has been just a great car to drive and that time it got down there and we actually had a bolt break on the rear spoiler and the left side went down and the car just made a move to the left and got worse and worse.

"I didn't know where the finish line was and I basically was looking out the window trying to drive as far as I could without the header hitting the wall. As it turned out, I lifted early to keep it off the wall and we lost.

"The worst part is I told Ace, I'd sure like to go right back up there and have a few more rounds because the car has been so consistent and he's been taking it easy. And I felt like if we could have gone into the final or the semis, he could have really laid out his game plan and ran a 4.60.

"I feel sorry for all the Brut Revolution guys because they've worked their butts off all weekend, and for me to not get it to the finish line, that hurts me.

"The one bright spot is my daughter Taylor just called and they're leaving Palm Springs and they won their cheerleading event. So, it's the first time she hasn't been here in Pomona. That's exciting. That made the day a little bit better."

Next up is the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 23-25.