Capps shoulders blame for crossing Norwalk center line in second-round disqualification loss in northern Ohio

July 08

NORWALK, Ohio (July 8, 2012) – Ron Capps is quick to accept if his crew or crew chief makes a minor miscalculation.

He always says “we win as a team, we lose as a team.”

So crew chief Rahn Tobler and the NAPA Batteries/Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Dodge Charger R/T crew were quick to accept a rare driver mistake by the veteran Capps.

It was unfortunate it happened in the second round of Sunday’s championship eliminations in the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in northern Ohio.

Capps, who qualified fourth, posted the quickest time of the first round when his Dodge went 4.102 seconds at the round’s top speed of 308.00 mph to defeat Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman.

Against Bob Tasca III, Capps was in the right lane and held a big lead by halftrack when his car began drifting toward the centerline and eventually crossed it to be disqualified.

“It was just driver error. I couldn’t catch it in time,” Capps said.

“When our NAPA Dodge got to halftrack it made a little move to the left. When you get the left tires just enough out of the groove it just drives you,” said Capps, who was able to hold onto second place in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series standings.

“It just made a hard move. I was out of the throttle with the wheel cranked full to the right just hoping I could save it.

“I didn’t even hear Tasca. We were truckin’ pretty good out in front of him.

“What’s hard to swallow is we had good hot rod and were the quickest car in the first round.”

For only the second time in 12 NHRA events, a DSR Funny Car did not advance to the semifinals round.

NORWALK RESULTS

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Mike Neff

Ron Capps, NAPA Batteries/Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 4

SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: CAPPS (4.102 sec., 308.00 mph) def. Jack Beckman (4.158, 298.21)
Second round: Bob Tasca III (4.350, 279.04) def. CAPPS (4.338, 233.48), disqualified for crossing the centerline.

QUALIFYING
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.250 sec., 286.25 mph
Session 2: 4.133, 307.02
SATURDAY
Session 3: 5.067, 154.46
Session 4: 4.276, 286.32

FULL THROTTLE FUNNY CAR STANDINGS
(DSR drivers in capital letters)
1. Robert Hight
2. RON CAPPS
3. Mike Neff
4. JACK BECKMAN
5. JOHNNY GRAY

NEXT FULL THROTTLE EVENT:
July 20-25, Mopar Mile High Nationals, Denver

‘GET BACK, GIVE BACK’
Throughout the busy travel month of July, NAPA customers will receive up to a $25 mail-in rebate for every battery, alternator and starter they purchase, and all or a portion of those rebates can be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Additionally, NAPA will donate $1 to the Fund for each redeemed rebate and $2 for each battery installed at a participating NAPA AutoCare Center or repair center.
NAPA stores are staging a “Black Out” through Saturday. Employees have traded their customary blue and yellow shirts for black NAPA T-shirts with the IFHF’s logo along with the phrase: “We Believe In Heroes.”

About Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a national leader in supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, has provided over $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. The Fund most recently opened the National Intrepid Center of Excellence to support the research, diagnosis, and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Fund is now launching a new project to build satellite TBI centers at several major military deployment bases around the country, providing more direct care to our wounded heroes in uniform.

About NAPA AUTO PARTS
NAPA was founded in 1925 to meet America’s growing need for a world-class auto parts distribution system. By providing excellent customer service for more than 80 years, NAPA has become the industry leader.
NAPA’s strength is unrivaled, with over 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores, 64 Distribution Centers, than 13,000 NAPA AutoCare, AutoCare Collision and Truck Service repair facilities, over 400,000 parts in inventory every day and the convenience of 24-hour shopping with NAPAonline. NAPA AUTO PARTS stores provide friendly, personalized service. Our highly trained and experienced professionals are here to help you get the job done. With our huge in-stock inventory, NAPA provides the parts you need when you need them.
For your automotive repair needs, NAPA AutoCare and AutoCare Collision and Truck Service Centers can handle everything from preventive maintenance to major repairs. Technicians at NAPA AutoCare Centers have access to the most extensive training in the automotive industry. Qualifying repairs are backed by the NAPA AutoCare “Peace of Mind” Warranty, providing our customers with 12-months/12,000 miles of worry-free protection on qualifying parts and labor. Wherever you may travel, our warranty is honored at all NAPA AutoCare Center locations across the country.

About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: in Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM/Prestone dragster of Spencer Massey and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown; and in Funny Car, 2011 NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan in the Aaron’s Dream Machine/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T, Valvoline NextGen Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Service Central Dodge of Johnny Gray. DSR arrived at Norwalk, Ohio, with 184 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

- GET BACK, GIVE BACK -