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Brownsburg, Ind. (8/11/06) -– Current NHRA Funny Car point leader Ron Capps and his Brut Racing crew chief Ed “the Ace” McCulloch have been working on a special setup for their Brut Dodge Charger in the 52nd running of the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
Capps, a 22-time NHRA national race winner, and McCulloch, the six-time U.S. Nationals titleholder, have combined for five wins and three runner up finishes already this year on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series but the pair is pulling out a new combination for the biggest drag racing event of the season.
And Capps and McCulloch believe the new secret will be a winner.
“Ace is one of the winningest drivers in U.S. Nationals history,” said Capps, who currently leads John Force by 70 points in the Funny Car class. “And he told me he has a special secret for the competition this year at Indy. With his credentials at that event, I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.”
McCulloch, an International Drag Racing Hall of Fame member, has proven that he not only was a great driver but also a great crew chief since the hanging up of his driver’s suit and helmet.
McCulloch now hopes to help Capps win his first U.S. National trophy.
“It has been a good transition for me to the crew chief role,” said McCulloch, who recently fought off cancer to continue his role with the wrenches and computers on the Brut machine. “Sure, things h ave changed a lot with Funny Cars since I drove them. Actually, now the cars change from race to race and we have to stay up on everything whether it’s a new blower or cylinder heads or tires. Everything is so much more advanced than when I was behind the wheel. I enjoy helping Ron now.”
McCulloch drove to five U.S. Nationals Funny Car crowns (1971, 1972, 1980, 1988 and 1990) and one Top Fuel title (1992). In addition, “Ace” won a prestigious “Fastmasters” race at ORP in the mid-1990s over the likes of obby Unser, Johnny Rutherford and Parnelli Jones.
“That Fastmasters series was unusual because we were racing on a small road course (on the inside of the ORP 5/8-mile oval) with very expensive cars, Jaquars, and we were banging into each other,” said McCulloch. “Driving against legends in that series was a great thrill but those guys played rough and I had to do the same.”
Speaking of rough competition, Capps and McCulloch know all about it in the very competitive nitroburning Funny Car division after they lost the coveted POWERade point title by just eight points last year in the closest battle in NHRA Funny Car history.
“We started the team last year and we wanted to form a good unit with Brut Racing,” said Capps. “To be honest, I don’t think we expected to race for the championship in our first year with Brut and Don Schumacher Racing. But Ace and the crew came together well and we almost pulled it off (losing to teammate Gary Scelzi by eight points). Now, in 2006, the Brut team and I have learned more about each and we have made eight final rounds and scored five wins. But, to be honest, Indy is one that I really want to win.”
Capps has been to the ORP victory lane before with three wins in the Skoal Funny Car Showdown, the special race for top qualifiers. But the coveted U.S. Nationals crown has eluded him since he joined the Funny Car ranks in1997.
“The U.S. Nationals is such a prestigious race and everyone wants that trophy in this case at home,” said Capps, who’ll look to extend his current 70- point lead in the Funny Car class this weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. “Right now though we want to win every event and pick up the valuable points. Brainerd has been good to me in the past (wins in 1998 and 2001).”
But Capps knows that that he and McCulloch are still sitting on their special
secret for Indy.
Capps, McCulloch To Bring Special Race Secret To The 52nd Mac Tools U.S. Nationals In Indy
Six-Time Nationals Champion “Ace” Hopes To Give Capps His 1st Title
Brownsburg, Ind. (8/11/06) -– Current NHRA Funny Car point leader Ron Capps and his Brut Racing crew chief Ed “the Ace” McCulloch have been working on a special setup for their Brut Dodge Charger in the 52nd running of the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
Capps, a 22-time NHRA national race winner, and McCulloch, the six-time U.S. Nationals titleholder, have combined for five wins and three runner up finishes already this year on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series but the pair is pulling out a new combination for the biggest drag racing event of the season.
And Capps and McCulloch believe the new secret will be a winner.
“Ace is one of the winningest drivers in U.S. Nationals history,” said Capps, who currently leads John Force by 70 points in the Funny Car class. “And he told me he has a special secret for the competition this year at Indy. With his credentials at that event, I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.”
McCulloch, an International Drag Racing Hall of Fame member, has proven that he not only was a great driver but also a great crew chief since the hanging up of his driver’s suit and helmet.
McCulloch now hopes to help Capps win his first U.S. National trophy.
“It has been a good transition for me to the crew chief role,” said McCulloch, who recently fought off cancer to continue his role with the wrenches and computers on the Brut machine. “Sure, things h ave changed a lot with Funny Cars since I drove them. Actually, now the cars change from race to race and we have to stay up on everything whether it’s a new blower or cylinder heads or tires. Everything is so much more advanced than when I was behind the wheel. I enjoy helping Ron now.”
McCulloch drove to five U.S. Nationals Funny Car crowns (1971, 1972, 1980, 1988 and 1990) and one Top Fuel title (1992). In addition, “Ace” won a prestigious “Fastmasters” race at ORP in the mid-1990s over the likes of obby Unser, Johnny Rutherford and Parnelli Jones.
“That Fastmasters series was unusual because we were racing on a small road course (on the inside of the ORP 5/8-mile oval) with very expensive cars, Jaquars, and we were banging into each other,” said McCulloch. “Driving against legends in that series was a great thrill but those guys played rough and I had to do the same.”
Speaking of rough competition, Capps and McCulloch know all about it in the very competitive nitroburning Funny Car division after they lost the coveted POWERade point title by just eight points last year in the closest battle in NHRA Funny Car history.
“We started the team last year and we wanted to form a good unit with Brut Racing,” said Capps. “To be honest, I don’t think we expected to race for the championship in our first year with Brut and Don Schumacher Racing. But Ace and the crew came together well and we almost pulled it off (losing to teammate Gary Scelzi by eight points). Now, in 2006, the Brut team and I have learned more about each and we have made eight final rounds and scored five wins. But, to be honest, Indy is one that I really want to win.”
Capps has been to the ORP victory lane before with three wins in the Skoal Funny Car Showdown, the special race for top qualifiers. But the coveted U.S. Nationals crown has eluded him since he joined the Funny Car ranks in1997.
“The U.S. Nationals is such a prestigious race and everyone wants that trophy in this case at home,” said Capps, who’ll look to extend his current 70- point lead in the Funny Car class this weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. “Right now though we want to win every event and pick up the valuable points. Brainerd has been good to me in the past (wins in 1998 and 2001).”
But Capps knows that that he and McCulloch are still sitting on their special
secret for Indy.
