Capps makes up ground in Countdown with semifinal finish in Richmond

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 4 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 22 of 24 for season
Fourth Annual NHRA Virginia Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Dinwiddie, Va.
Oct. 9-11, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

CAPPS MAKES UP GROUND IN COUNTDOWN WITH SEMIFINAL FINISH IN RICHMOND

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2009) - Ron Capps made up ground in the NHRA Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1 playoffs point standings with his
semifinal finish at the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports
Park, just south of Richmond, Va. He moved into fourth place and closed the
gap between him and leader Robert Hight, and is now 63 markers behind.

With two events remaining in the season before a champion is crowned, Capps,
driving the NAPA Susan G. Komen for the Cure Dodge Funny Car, is within
striking distance of his first Funny Car championship.

En route to the semifinal round after qualifying No. 2 with a 4.046-second
run at 308.71 mph, recording his career-best top speed racing to 1000 feet,
he dismissed Jerry Toliver with a solid 4.085/309.27, then dismissed Bob
Tasca with another stout 4.121/298.07.

Despite enjoying lane choice all the way, he exited the event in the
semifinal round against eventual event winner Del Worsham, when he struck
the tires early, slowing to a 5.145/149.10 pass, while Worsham cruised to
the victory with a 4.119/306.95.

With championship contenders Hight, Ashley Force Hood and Tony Pedregon
bowing out in early rounds (only Hight made it into the second round), the
points tightened up and it's still anybody's game.

"We took advantage of the situation where we made positive ground on the
leaders," said Capps, class-best five-time winner this year, "but we are
still very disappointed because we felt like there were 40 more points that
we could have cleaned up with today.

"Thatıs the thing about our sport: you just canıt start counting that stuff.
Even though you have lane choice the cars are so competitive out here. The
track and the NHRA did a great job of evening these lanes out.

"We went back up in the semis to run a 4.08 or 4.09. Del ran a 4.11 and we
pulled the tires loose. That's what makes it so fun and so competitive.

"We're going next to Las Vegas. That's a great track for this team; we won
there earlier this year. With those two tracks coming up (Las Vegas and
Pomona, Calif.) and our being three rounds behind the leaders it's going to
be a fun two weekends off."

Next up is the ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after four of six Countdown to 1
playoffs events:
1. Robert Hight, 2362
2. Ashley Force Hood, 2349
3. Tony Pedregon, 2314
4. Ron Capps, 2299
5. Tim Wilkerson, 2280 (runner-up today)
6. Jack Beckman, 2276
7. Bob Tasca III, 2259
8. Del Worsham, 2227 (winner today)
9. John Force, 2216
10. Mike Neff, 2203
11. Cruz Pedregon, 1034
12. Matt Hagan, 1000

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