Capps makes Atlanta exit in second round

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 8 of 23
30th annual SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Atlanta Dragway - Commerce, Ga.
May 14-16, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

CAPPS MAKES ATLANTA EXIT IN SECOND ROUND

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2010) - Ron Capps, racing the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge
Charger Funny Car, made an early exit at the 30th annual NHRA Southern
Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, after being defeated by his Don Schumacher
Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the quarterfinal.

No. 3 qualifier Capps first met up with Jim Head in the opening stanza, whom
he defeated with a 4.363-second elapsed time at 233.03 mph and a shredded
supercharger belt, as Head coasted to a 7.278/90.90 pass.

Without lane choice, Capps then faced Beckman in the quarterfinal. Both were
bitten by NHRA's variable Christmas Tree timing system. Beckman launched
with an uncharacteristic .199 reaction time (.000 is perfect), while Capps
took the lead with a .063 reaction time, then lost traction, which he blamed
on driver error. Beckman crossed the finish line first with a 4.202/296.67;
Capps trailed with a 5.404/152.80.

"We got some cloud cover coming in and Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) was
real comfortable about how we could run that lane. It was just a mental
mistake by the driver," admitted Capps.

"And Jack had a .199 light, which isn't very normal for him as well. The
variable Christmas Tree timing system (which regulates randomly when the
amber lights come down) had one of the longest lights we've had in a long
time. We were both waiting, waiting and waiting on the amber and I made a
mental mistake, and it won't show to the normal fan, of letting go of the
brake and letting the car roll and not hitting the gas normally. That
creates havoc with all the timers that are set by the crew chiefs.

"I really felt like we were going to run an .18 or .19 and felt like we
could have beaten him; it was just a mental mistake that I don't usually
make and I shouldn't make.

"You could almost throw that run away. It's nothing Ace can even look at to
analyze. When I don't do my normal routine it throws everything off. Those
things happen. It's my job to not make that happen."

Next up is the 22nd annual NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka,
Kan., May 21-23.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after eight events:
1. John Force, 671
2. Ashley Force Hood, 556 (runner-up today)
3. Robert Hight, 551 (winner today)
4. Jack Beckman, 538
5. Ron Capps, 518
6. Matt Hagan, 497
7. Tony Pedregon, 459
8. Bob Tasca III, 455
9. Tim Wilkerson, 440
10. Del Worsham, 413

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