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KENT, Wash. (July 21, 2007) - Following today's only qualifying session held in the past two days because of rain at the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Ron Capps is No. 7 in the field of 16 Funny Cars. The top 10 qualifiers retained their positions, while the bottom six were determined by point standings and their performance in the single qualifying round.
Capps posted a 4.888-second lap at 313.66 mph to earn that position, and will face Ashley Force in the first round of eliminations on race day.
"This is another one of those strange weekends," said Capps, driver of the Brut "Test Drive" Dodge Charger R/T and the Funny Car class points leader. "And we ended up with lane choice for first round, which is always a goal. We were in the top half of the field after that one round of qualifying and you just don't know. When there's a chance of rain you don't know if they'll get just one session in or get another one in.
"So, at the last minute Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) made a change to make sure the car went down the track instead of really going for low E.T. That's what you have to do in those situations. If you go out and you have to pedal the thing because you think you need to get into the show deeper, then you risk hurting things and breaking parts and hurting the body and it's not the smart way to go about it.
"So, we got in the show, we got to make a run, we got some data, and we have lane choice first round. There's two races left in the six-race swing, and this is just part of it. You just have to wait and see what happens."
As for having only one round of qualifying to tune from, "I used to worry about it a lot," said Capps, "and hanging out with Ace and all these veterans you learn you can't control Mother Nature, so you just kind of wait it out.
"It's the same for everybody. If anything, I feel probably more comfortable than anybody just rolling up there on race day, even if we didn't get any runs in. NHRA should have years ago set it up so we set the field by points if it rains, and do what NASCAR does. They run off points and you go racing."
CAPPS EARNS NO. 7 IN WASHED-OUT SEATTLE QUALIFYING
KENT, Wash. (July 21, 2007) - Following today's only qualifying session held in the past two days because of rain at the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Ron Capps is No. 7 in the field of 16 Funny Cars. The top 10 qualifiers retained their positions, while the bottom six were determined by point standings and their performance in the single qualifying round.
Capps posted a 4.888-second lap at 313.66 mph to earn that position, and will face Ashley Force in the first round of eliminations on race day.
"This is another one of those strange weekends," said Capps, driver of the Brut "Test Drive" Dodge Charger R/T and the Funny Car class points leader. "And we ended up with lane choice for first round, which is always a goal. We were in the top half of the field after that one round of qualifying and you just don't know. When there's a chance of rain you don't know if they'll get just one session in or get another one in.
"So, at the last minute Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) made a change to make sure the car went down the track instead of really going for low E.T. That's what you have to do in those situations. If you go out and you have to pedal the thing because you think you need to get into the show deeper, then you risk hurting things and breaking parts and hurting the body and it's not the smart way to go about it.
"So, we got in the show, we got to make a run, we got some data, and we have lane choice first round. There's two races left in the six-race swing, and this is just part of it. You just have to wait and see what happens."
As for having only one round of qualifying to tune from, "I used to worry about it a lot," said Capps, "and hanging out with Ace and all these veterans you learn you can't control Mother Nature, so you just kind of wait it out.
"It's the same for everybody. If anything, I feel probably more comfortable than anybody just rolling up there on race day, even if we didn't get any runs in. NHRA should have years ago set it up so we set the field by points if it rains, and do what NASCAR does. They run off points and you go racing."
