Capps encouraged by Norwalk quarterfinal finish

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 13 of 23
Fourth annual NHRA Nationals
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio
June 25-27, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

CAPPS ENCOURAGED BY NORWALK QUARTERFINAL FINISH

NORWALK, Ohio (June 27, 2010) - Ron Capps advanced to the Funny Car
quarterfinal round today at the fourth annual NHRA Nationals, posting two
solid laps in 90-degree ambient heat and track temperatures reaching 128
degrees.

Driving the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger Funny Car from the fifth starting
position, he won his opening-round match-up out of the left lane over Bob
Bode with a less-than-perfect 4.333-second elapsed time at 273.66 mph, then
met up with Robert Hight in the second round for a close contest, without
lane choice. Out of the right lane, Capps took the lead at the starting
beams (.096 reaction time for Capps, .104 for Hight - .000 is perfect),
relinquished it after 60 feet and regained it at 330 feet, until Hight
nipped him at the finish line, posting a winning 4.235/288.70 to Capps'
close but losing 4.277/277.43

"Both lanes were hot," said Capps. "I'm actually pretty proud of the guys
for making a great call to get the NAPA Dodge to go down that right lane. As
most fans saw, unbelievable temperatures were beating down on the track the
whole day, so I think all the Funny Car teams put on a great show
considering how hot the track was.

"Obviously, you get up for (crew chief) Jimmy Prock and Robert Hight. They
have had the best car this year, so you really have to be on your game. We
left close together, we were locked together, and the NAPA car just started
spinning the tire a little after half track and kind of moved me over a
little bit. I could hear Robert out there the whole time. It was going to be
a great race if it hadn't spun the tires, but it was just an excellent job
by the NAPA crew to get the car to make it to the finish.

"I wouldn't say we were lucky, but I might have had a little bit of Eric
Medlen helping me steer away from the cones that first lap because I was
heading right toward the cones with a cylinder out. If it were a
quarter-mile track I would have crossed the centerline. That got us past
first round into second.

"It's encouraging. It's just more data for (crew chief) John Medlen and all
the NAPA guys to work on. It's all about confidence, and they're helping me
build back my confidence.²

Next up is the 23rd NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., July 9-11.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 13 of 23 events:
1. John Force, 1024 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 951
3. Matt Hagan, 849
4. Jack Beckman, 835
5. Ashley Force Hood, 813
6. Bob Tasca III, 792
7. Tim Wilkerson, 777 (winner today)
8. Ron Capps, 751
9. Del Worsham, 741
10. Tony Pedregon, 637

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