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LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - Ron Capps pulled out a stout run in the final Funny Car qualifying session for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 4.887-second pass at 319.14 mph, placing the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T squarely in the No. 6 spot.
Coming into this final round as the fourth pair with his teammate Jack Beckman, Capps found himself out of the field as he and Beckman lined up at the starting lights. That solid pass propelled him into No. 5 at the time, and after qualifying was complete, Capps had fallen just one position, to No. 6.
That final-session effort was the second quickest of the round, surpassed only by No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight's 4.849/321.27.
Capps' other qualifying passes included a tire-smoking 10.083/75.39 (DNQ), a 4.991/305.77 (No. 16) and a 5.060/297.61 (No. 14).
"What a great effort by Ace and the NAPA guys," said Capps. "We were in line as the next car to run and we were bumped out of the show by Gary Densham in front of us. And for Ace to pull out a 4.887 on a track that was as hot as it was shows he's back to the form he was in last year and it felt great.
"John Force was talking with me in the staging lanes and giving me a pep talk about getting in the show, and the poor guy doesn't get in the show," Capps said of Force's not qualifying. "We're lucky to have qualified and we're even happier to have lane choice and we hope to have a big day tomorrow."
Capps faces Del Worsham in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
CAPPS QUALIFIES NAPA DODGE IN NO. 6 IN VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - Ron Capps pulled out a stout run in the final Funny Car qualifying session for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 4.887-second pass at 319.14 mph, placing the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T squarely in the No. 6 spot.
Coming into this final round as the fourth pair with his teammate Jack Beckman, Capps found himself out of the field as he and Beckman lined up at the starting lights. That solid pass propelled him into No. 5 at the time, and after qualifying was complete, Capps had fallen just one position, to No. 6.
That final-session effort was the second quickest of the round, surpassed only by No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight's 4.849/321.27.
Capps' other qualifying passes included a tire-smoking 10.083/75.39 (DNQ), a 4.991/305.77 (No. 16) and a 5.060/297.61 (No. 14).
"What a great effort by Ace and the NAPA guys," said Capps. "We were in line as the next car to run and we were bumped out of the show by Gary Densham in front of us. And for Ace to pull out a 4.887 on a track that was as hot as it was shows he's back to the form he was in last year and it felt great.
"John Force was talking with me in the staging lanes and giving me a pep talk about getting in the show, and the poor guy doesn't get in the show," Capps said of Force's not qualifying. "We're lucky to have qualified and we're even happier to have lane choice and we hope to have a big day tomorrow."
Capps faces Del Worsham in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
