Capps expects great things in Charlotte 4-wide race

April 16

Ideal track conditions coupled with consistent runs during qualifying fills Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, with optimism heading into tomorrow’s 2^nd annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA 4-Wide Nationals here at zMAX Dragway.

The Southern California native qualified eighth on the strength of a 4.119-second/301.13-mile-per-hour second-round Friday. He ran a 4.158/301.60 third round, before starting-line issues led to a 10.037 fourth round.

“John Medlen (crew chief) did a great, consistent job of tuning the car,” he said. “We went for it on the last run, but some issues at the starting line because one of the drivers delayed the staging, led to clutch problems.”

Capps, coming into the race seventh in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car championship competition, said the car is greatly improved since the Las Vegas race two weeks ago.

“The NAPA crew has made leaps and bounds with this car since we worked on it during testing the day after the Vegas race,” explained the Don Schumacher Racing driver. “We can run with anybody in the Funny Car class, for sure.

“I think it will take a 4.05/4.06 tomorrow and we can do it.”

His first round in the unique four-wide format features pole-sitter John Force, Jim Head (ninth position) and Dale Creasy Jr. (16^th) 

“We’re pumped up about the 4-Wide; we’re having fun,” he said. “But you have to think out there, especially at the starting line. You have to adapt to a different kind of tree; you have to be on your game!”

The NHRA instituted a number of subtle, but important changes which Capps believes improves communications between the sanctioning body and the teams.

“NHRA’s Graham Light texted us timely information about start-line operations, track conditions, weather reports and session start times, all of which was a huge help,” he said. “Graham and the NHRA deserve kudos for their efforts.”