Capps is No. 9 qualifier in Pomona season-opener
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 1 of 23
50th ANNUAL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.)
Feb. 11-14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
CAPPS IS NO. 9 QUALIFIER IN POMONA SEASON-OPENER
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2010) - Ron Capps drove the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge
Charger Funny Car into the No. 9 position during qualifying for the 50th
annual NHRA Winternationals.
Capps recorded his quickest pass of 4.144 seconds at 301.54 mph in today's
third qualifying round. His other laps were a tire-smoking 8.725/75.85 on
Thursday, a 4.167/289.76 on Friday, and a 7.868/83.13 in today's final
attempt.
"It's been a pretty tumultuous weekend so far for our NAPA team," said
defending event champion Capps. "We smoked the tires the first round. In the
second round of qualifying we ran a 4.16 and actually had an air line that
blew off of it that slowed the car down. Tonight (under ideal conditions),
Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) just went for it. The conditions were there,
it was dark and we felt we could run a low 4.0. It just didn't hold, as a
lot of teams who went after it found out.
"We don't have lane choice, we're No. 9, but looking back at last year we
ended up winning the race and we weren't real comfortable with qualifying at
that one either. I've said it time and time again, it doesn't matter where
I'm qualified. I'll show up Sunday morning and Ed McCulloch and this NAPA
team will have a car that can win the race, and I look forward to it."
Capps faces Jim Head in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
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