No Bristol birthday present for Capps

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 12 of 23
10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway
June 18-20, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

NO BRISTOL BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR CAPPS

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 20, 2010) - Ron Capps did not receive a birthday
present today from Bristol Dragway, as he was bounced in the opening round
of Funny Car eliminations by last weekend's Englishtown, N.J., winner Bob
Tasca III.

Sunday dawned with predictions of temperatures even hotter than Saturdayıs,
and despite 90-degree ambient heat, the track produced a number of solid
non-tire-smoking runs in the first round. As No. 10 qualifier, Capps posted
a good pass but fell victim to the luck of the draw by having to face the
No. 7 qualifier without lane choice.

The pair launched wheel-to-wheel (.082 reaction time for Capps, .080 for
Tasca - .000 is perfect), but Tasca's 4.236-second lap at 292.65 mph, the
second-quickest of the round, was enough to outrun Capps' 4.299/277.77.

"The NHRA did a great job of prepping the track today," said Capps, driver
of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger Funny Car and two-time Bristol
champion, "and the track temperature was around 120 degrees earlier in the
day. A big difference from yesterday, when we ran the final qualifying
session with the track temp registering nearly 140 degrees. (Crew chief) Ed
"Ace" McCulloch was ready for it with a solid tune-up for the conditions. We
just came up short. It's tough to race against a driver/car combination
that's been running strong of late, and Tasca and his team did a great job.

"I'll just head to the airport and try to get home in time to celebrate my
birthday and Father's Day with my kids (son Caden, who'll be 9 on July 1,
and daughter Taylor, who will turn 14 on July 25). I should be landing in
time for us to take in a late movie in Carlsbad (Calif.).

"There's still plenty of season left and our goal is to move up higher in
the point standings and lock in a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs. When
the Countdown starts it'll be like a whole new season."

Capps remains seventh in the point standings, with five events to go before
the playoffs kick in.

Next up is the fourth annual NHRA Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio, June 25-27.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 12 of 23 events:
1. John Force, 933 (winner today)
2. Robert Hight, 875
3. Matt Hagan, 807
4. Jack Beckman, 778
5. Ashley Force Hood, 768
6. Bob Tasca III, 759
7. Ron Capps, 697
8. Del Worsham, 666
9. Tim Wilkerson, 665 (runner-up today)
10. Tony Pedregon, 605

***