NHRA: Bristol Showdown Final Notes/Quotes, Chevrolet
10 July 1999
FUNNY CAR -- CAMARO Z28 RON CAPPS, COPENHAGEN CAMARO Z28, will face Kenny Bernstein's Top Fuel Dragster in tomorrow's first round of the Winston Showdown. His e.t. of 5.087 seconds at 301.13 mph put him eighth in the field of 12 Funny Cars, which will race against 12 Top Fuel Dragsters. CAPPS: "We brought out last year's chassis; we ran the other one as long as we couuld. The only thing we hadn't changed before this event is the driver and chassis. Hopefully the driver isn't next. Having Roland (Leong, former crew chief, now advisor) this weekend and having last year's chassis under me makes me feel comfortable. The Camaro has gone straight down the track three times in a row. If it smokes the tires it's hard to learn anything from the run. We're trying to sneak up on it and get data and use it on the next run. It's exciting running against these dragsters because you get out there and you are used to seeing a Funny Car body pulling up ahead of you and passing you. Now you look out your window and you see a couple of tires. You get excited wondering if they're going to catch you, it's like playing a game of tag. I'm really excited about the race tomorrow, no matter what happens." NOTE: Two other Camaros have qualified in the field: WHIT BAZEMORE, KENDALL OIL/SUPERWINCH CAMARO Z28, is second, 4.954/307.58, and will face Larry Dixon in the first round. CHUCK ETCHELLS, SICKLES MOTORSPORTS CAMARO Z28, is No. 10, 5.108/290.51. He'll meet Joe Amato in the first round. PRO STOCK TRUCK -- CHEVY S-10 BRAD JETER, JETER RACING CHEVY S-10, held on to No. 1 spot after the final qualifying session, although his e.t. was slower than the one he set in the heat of the day this afternoon. He's No. 1 with his 7.755/174.84 from today's earlier run. His numbers in tonight's session were 7.764//174.46. JETER: "We started out yesterday with a 7.85 in the first run, we tuned from that. The track is definitely different from the past few years when we were racing here. We ran a .757 last night, which we were happy with. I thought there was more left in it. We came back today and made adjustments and did a .755 again in the heat, which really surprised me. This evening we ran a .76. I'm really happy with what we ran this weekend. I think everybody here at the Bristol Dragway has done a terrific job with the facility and the track. You had to be here before to appreciate the changes. I really appreciate everything Winston has done for us." HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RUNNING THIS NON-POINTS RACE: "It's going to be a little different with the ladder. I'm really kind of stunned that no more trucks showed up than did. We have 12 here. I feel like it's unsportsmanlike for the other guys who didn't show up here. You have to give a little bit back. Wiinston is behind this whole deal. This is the racers' way of showing their thanks to Winston. I'm surprised they didn't show up. Maybe if they realize what opportunity they missed they will come back next year -- if Winston wants the trucks back next year. And I hope they do, very much." ON THE PRIZE MONEY OFFERED TO WIN ($15,000): "That will go a long way with our Chevy S-10 (if we win). We're doing this out of our own pocket, we're scratching for sponsorship. The money would be a big boost for the team and give us an opportunity to do some testing with this S-10 in the seven weeks before Indy (U.S. Nationals). We would like to go into Indy with a win, that always gives you self-confidence. We haven't won since Richmond, we were in the final once since then, in Columbus." ON THE SLOWER FINAL RUN: "I kind of felt that we would run better with the sun going down and with the heat off the track. But the air just didn't seem to do exactly what we thought it would do. The race track was definitely better. Therefore, the performance was down a little bit. That's the conditions we will be running into tomorrow evening, so we will have a better feeling of what we have to do when the sun goes down." NOTE: Chevy S-10s have dominated the Pro Stock Truck class in this season's 14-event NHRA Winston Drag Racing series, winning nine of nine so far. The fields have seen up to 35 trucks (Chevys, Dodges and Fords) vying for 16 qualifying positions. The series is in its second year as a professional class. PRO STOCK -- CAMARO Z28 KURT JOHNSON, ACDELCO CAMARO Z28, is qualified No. 3, 7.068/195.68. MIKE EDWARDS, DEWCO SALES CO., is No. 13, 7.103/194.07.
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