NAPA’s Capps gets closer to NHRA Funny Car points lead, but time running out to reach first before Countdown starts

August 05

KENT, Wash. (Aug. 5, 2012) – Ron Capps’ hope of catching the NHRA Funny Car points leader Robert Hight near Seattle went up in smoke Sunday, but two events remain when the NAPA AUTO PARTS driver can overtake the former world champ.

Capps moved to within 31 points of leader Robert Hight of John Force Racing when Hight lost in the opening round and Capps advanced to the semifinals. Capps was 246 points behind Hight after five of the 23 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour before making an astounding comeback over the last 10 races.

“After Robert lost I really was hoping we could get around him in the standings,” Capps said.

Two NHRA Full Throttle events remain before the top-10 in points are determined for the field in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, which is contested over the last six races of the season.

Beyond bragging rights for being the “regular” season champ, points are reset for the Countdown and the points leader receives a 30-point cushion.

“Those points would be huge and no better way to start the Countdown,” Capps said.

Had Capps won the title Sunday in the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways near Seattle, he would have moved to the top and led Hight by nine points.

But Capps lost in the semifinals to the Dodge Charger R/T driven by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan. It was a critical win for Hagan as the reigning Funny Car world champion is fighting to make the top 10.

“We were really hoping to move past Robert today. The only consolation is that Matt gained a couple rounds and that will help him,” Capps said of Hagan advancing to the championship round where he lost to rookie Courtney Force.

“Guys were smoking the tires in the right lane before we ran and we had lane choice so we took the left lane,” Capps said. “But (Hagan crew chief) Tommy DeLago did a good job of getting Matt’s car past that point of the track. They had the only car that went down the right lane.”

Hagan also smoked the tires but was able to win with a time of 4.410 seconds at 231.28 mph to Capps’ 5.328 (159.61).

Capps, who was the No. 1 qualifier with a time of 4.119 seconds, was even quicker in the first round with a run of 4.118 that was the quickest run on Sunday.

“We ran that 4.11 in qualifying and then we came back with another 4.11 in the first round that was even quicker,” Capps said. “That was a phenomenal run.”

But as the tricky track continued to heat up under clear skies and ambient temperatures in the low 90s, crew chief Rahn Tobler battled to rein in the power of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car.

“He kept trying to back it down and calm it down because the track got hotter in the second round and even hotter in the semis,” Capps said.

“I’m proud of Rahn because in the middle of qualifying he worked hard to get the car quicker early in the runs so we could get the momentum going earlier. He accomplished that even on a track that was as hot as it was this weekend.

“It went down the track in the second round but spun the tires on that last run. Rahn backed it down even more but it wasn’t enough. It went out and rattled the tires loose before Matt’s started to spin so he had more momentum and was out in front.

The next Full Throttle event is Aug. 17-19 at Brainerd, Minn., where Capps was runner-up last year.

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Courtney Force, John Force Racing
No. 1 qualifier: Ron Capps, DSR, 4.119, 298.47

Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 1
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: CAPPS (4.118 sec., 296.89 mph) def. Jeff Diehl (broke)
Second Round: CAPPS (4.169, 288.46) def. Tim Wilkerson (4.214, 292.90)
Semifinals: Matt Hagan (4.410, 231.28) def. CAPPS (5.328, 159.61)

FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.451 sec., 208.30 mph
Session 2: 4.119, 298.47
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.304, 276.58
Session 4: 4.222, 291.89

NHRA FULL THROTTLE STANDINGS
(Through Kent, Wash., 15 0f 23 events; DSR drivers in CAPS; * clinched spots in Countdown)

FUNNY CAR
1. *Robert Hight, 1143
2. *RON CAPPS, 1112
3. *JACK BECKMAN, 1003
4. JOHNNY GRAY, 942
5. Mike Neff, 933
6. Courtney Force, 851
7. Cruz Pedregon, 803
8. Jeff Arend, 749
9. John Force, 746
10. Bob Tasca, 739
11. Matt Hagan, 697

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 has won 189 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

- 189 -