Capps is ready to take on Topeka
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 9 of 23
22nd Annual NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS
Heartland Park Topeka, Kan.
May 21-23, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
CAPPS IS READY TO TAKE ON TOPEKA
CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 18, 2010) - NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger Funny Car
driver Ron Capps is ready to take on one of his favorite race tracks on the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit this weekend, Heartland Park
Topeka, at the 22nd annual NHRA Summer Nationals.
Capps is a three-time Topeka Funny Car champion, including winning in 2009,
and is still looking for his first victory of the 2010 NHRA season. With his
solid record at Heartland Park, he's hoping some of that karma will carry
over to help him get to the winner's circle on Sunday.
"We're going back as returning champions," said Capps, who is fifth in the
class points rankings after eight of 23 season events. "That's always a
great thing. You ask any driver, any team member, and they'll agree that
seeing your car's picture printed on the ticket and seeing the team listed
as the returning champion are always confidence boosters.
"Winning there last year was something we are very proud of because the hot
weather and the tricky track conditions made it really important for
everyone on the NAPA team to work together. And it paid off. It was a very
difficult day, but to be standing in the winner's circle at the end of it
was a great thing.
"I have always enjoyed going to Topeka, even back in the day when I was a
crew member. All through the years, and I've said it before, you come into
town for that whole week and you'd think there was nothing happening in that
town but NHRA drag racing. You read the papers, watch the news on TV and
listen to the radio stations, and they all start their newscasts with
stories about NHRA. It's a town that really opens up.
"We don't see that a whole lot anymore because there's just so many things
going on in the world, in other racing series, in stick-and-ball sports, and
other recreational stuff for people to do, but the town of Topeka still
lights up when the drag races come to town. You really feel special because
everybody in town knows why you're there."
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2010 Funny Car points, after eight events (one runner-up, two
quarterfinal, three semifinal, two first rounds)
* Has three wins in Topeka: 1998, 2006, 2009; runner-up in 2000
* Qualified No. 7 at 2009 Topeka event; won event over Ashley Force Hood
* Ended 2009 season No. 3 in the point standings
* Won class-best five events in 2009 - Pomona 1, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Topeka,
Denver - in seven final rounds
* Entered 2009 Countdown to 1 No. 2 in 2009 Funny Car "regular season" after
leading standings in 12 of the first 14 events
* Currently holds the national record racing to 1000 feet of 4.023 seconds
(Phoenix 2009)
* Qualified No. 1 three times in 2009 (Phoenix, St. Louis, Denver); none in
2010 so far
* Has nine career No. 1 qualifiers
* No. 8 in 2008 Funny Car points; two runner-up, five semifinal, four
quarterfinal finishes, 13 first-rounds
* Is tied with Tony Pedregon with longest qualifying streak among active
Funny Car drivers: 71
* No. 4 in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Led 2007 Funny Car point standings by as much as 154 points through 14 of
the first 17 races of the season
* NAPA AUTO PARTS is primary sponsor for third straight season
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2005
* Has three U.S. Smokeless Showdown titles: 1998, 1999 and 2002
* Third in 2006 final point standings
* Had class-best five wins in 2006
* Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first
win for DSR in '05)
* 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title
* 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 30 event wins in 62 final rounds to his credit (29 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 (racing to 1320 feet)
* His career-best speed is 331.61 mph (Pomona 1, '07) - racing to 1320 feet
* Capps' career round win-loss record is 383-282
* Capps' career-best speed racing to 1000 feet is 313.80 mph (Concord 2010)
* (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FOUR-WIDE RACE IN CONCORD) Capps' career record
against 14-time champion John Force is 22-42 in round wins. He's won 14 of
the last 20 meetings against Force, and has won five of the last seven
first-round match-ups over Force. His final-round record against Force is
3-1
* Age 44 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
* Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (7/25/96)
and son Caden (7/1/01)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt
Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 21 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 22 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 23 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES
eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 22, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
race preview show, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage
starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 21, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder 22K (12140 MHz,
vertical)
(Analog feed) Saturday, May 22, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder
22K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 23, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder 22K (12140 MHz,
vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winnersą
interviews on Sunday.
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