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CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2006) - Ron Capps showed Saturday that his new BRUT Revolution Dodge Charger Funny Car could be a strong contender for Sunday's "Skoal Showdown" and Monday's final eliminations at the 52nd annual U.S. Nationals drag races at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Capps, currently second in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car point standings, ended up sixth after three rounds of Funny Car qualifying at the famed Indianapolis quarter-mile pavement with a best Friday time of 4.730 seconds at 324.67 miles per hour. John Force posted a new track record Saturday at 4.691.
But for Capps it was his Saturday afternoon performance in the heat of the day that impressed the Funny Car ranks as the Carlsbad, Calif., driver wheeled his BRUT mount to the top run of the session at 4.777, 320.58 m.p.h. Capps and crew chief Ed "the Ace" McCulloch seemed pleased with the afternoon showing.
In the late night final run, Capps’ machine lost traction and he had to shut down the engine.
Capps debuted the Don Schumacher Racing-owned BRUT Revolution blue and silver car on Friday night with a special unveiling that included smoke, fireworks and a video presentation.
"The afternoon run was a good one as the conditions were closer to the track and air conditions during Sunday’s and Monday’s eliminations," said Capps, a three-time "Skoal Showdown" champion. "You have to be ready for how the track changes at Indy. At Indy, the event runs much longer than a regular NHRA national event. So a lot of rubber builds up on that quarter-mile during the weekend and you have adjust with each run."
McCulloch, the six-time U.S. Nationals titleholder including the winningest Funny Car champion (5) went for a new track record with his tune-up Saturday night with Capps at the controls of the BRUT Revolution machine. However, the track didn’t hold McCulloch’s engine-clutch combination.
"We were going for low E.T. (Elasped Time) in the last run," said Capps, a five-time 2006 winner. "We were pleased how the car ran in the afternoon and threw a lot at the car in the night time. I think we’ll get the new blue car back and ready for the 12:30 (p.m.) first round on Sunday (of the Skoal Showdown).”
The first round of the Skoal Showdown pits the eight best Funny Car qualifiers in the last year and Capps qualified sixth in the points. Capps will take on Eric Medlen in the first round on Sunday. Qualifying for the U.S. Nationals continues Saturday afternoon. The U.S. Nationals’ final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4.
Capps Qualifies 6th with New BRUT Revolution Dodge Charger Saturday At U.S. Nationals
Veteran Driver Posts Quickest Daytime Funny Car Run at 4.77
CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2006) - Ron Capps showed Saturday that his new BRUT Revolution Dodge Charger Funny Car could be a strong contender for Sunday's "Skoal Showdown" and Monday's final eliminations at the 52nd annual U.S. Nationals drag races at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Capps, currently second in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car point standings, ended up sixth after three rounds of Funny Car qualifying at the famed Indianapolis quarter-mile pavement with a best Friday time of 4.730 seconds at 324.67 miles per hour. John Force posted a new track record Saturday at 4.691.
But for Capps it was his Saturday afternoon performance in the heat of the day that impressed the Funny Car ranks as the Carlsbad, Calif., driver wheeled his BRUT mount to the top run of the session at 4.777, 320.58 m.p.h. Capps and crew chief Ed "the Ace" McCulloch seemed pleased with the afternoon showing.
In the late night final run, Capps’ machine lost traction and he had to shut down the engine.
Capps debuted the Don Schumacher Racing-owned BRUT Revolution blue and silver car on Friday night with a special unveiling that included smoke, fireworks and a video presentation.
"The afternoon run was a good one as the conditions were closer to the track and air conditions during Sunday’s and Monday’s eliminations," said Capps, a three-time "Skoal Showdown" champion. "You have to be ready for how the track changes at Indy. At Indy, the event runs much longer than a regular NHRA national event. So a lot of rubber builds up on that quarter-mile during the weekend and you have adjust with each run."
McCulloch, the six-time U.S. Nationals titleholder including the winningest Funny Car champion (5) went for a new track record with his tune-up Saturday night with Capps at the controls of the BRUT Revolution machine. However, the track didn’t hold McCulloch’s engine-clutch combination.
"We were going for low E.T. (Elasped Time) in the last run," said Capps, a five-time 2006 winner. "We were pleased how the car ran in the afternoon and threw a lot at the car in the night time. I think we’ll get the new blue car back and ready for the 12:30 (p.m.) first round on Sunday (of the Skoal Showdown).”
The first round of the Skoal Showdown pits the eight best Funny Car qualifiers in the last year and Capps qualified sixth in the points. Capps will take on Eric Medlen in the first round on Sunday. Qualifying for the U.S. Nationals continues Saturday afternoon. The U.S. Nationals’ final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4.
