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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2006) - Ron Capps drove the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T into the No. 6 spot in qualifying for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals today, posting a 4.725-second pass at 328.86mph, set in Friday's session.
Once again demonstrating the consistency of crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch's tune-up, his other laps included a 4.769/324.36, a 4.814/316.08 and finally a 4.759/326.63, a run the team expected to be the best under the ideal, cooler conditions, but fell short.
Capps dropped to third place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings, and is now two points behind Robert Hight (No. 2 qualifier) and 74 behind leader John Force (No. 3), as the trio vies for the Funny Car championship in Sunday's eliminations.
"After watching the Matco Tools guys run (Jack Beckman is No. 1 qualifier with a 4.671-second elapsed time), we figured we could run a high 4.60," said Capps, who also receives support from Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels, of the last run. "It's complicated, but the clutch just didn't wear the way we wanted it to. Actually, it wasn't wearing enough. It rattled the tires a few times down there and when it tried to lock the clutch up it rattled the tires. Any time you do that you lose elapsed time.
"It's funny how we're so disappointed with a run like that. A lot of times during the season it would have made a lot of teams ecstatic. But, right now, [the championship] is just basically going to boil down to who goes the furthest. We're all on the same side of the ladder, so it's going to make for a very interesting day tomorrow.
"We're happy we have lane choice. We thought we would qualify a lot better than we did, but in typical Pomona end-of-the-year fashion, the weather cooled off and guys were throwing shots out, and we just need to be one of those guys throwing the shots out at the end of the day like that.
"Sunday is race day and we know how the Brut Revolution Dodge team is on race day. I'm going to show up on Sunday morning with all the confidence in the world."
Capps faces Tim Wilkerson in the opening round.
CAPPS SNAGS NO. 6 IN POMONA QUALIFYING
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2006) - Ron Capps drove the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T into the No. 6 spot in qualifying for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals today, posting a 4.725-second pass at 328.86mph, set in Friday's session.
Once again demonstrating the consistency of crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch's tune-up, his other laps included a 4.769/324.36, a 4.814/316.08 and finally a 4.759/326.63, a run the team expected to be the best under the ideal, cooler conditions, but fell short.
Capps dropped to third place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings, and is now two points behind Robert Hight (No. 2 qualifier) and 74 behind leader John Force (No. 3), as the trio vies for the Funny Car championship in Sunday's eliminations.
"After watching the Matco Tools guys run (Jack Beckman is No. 1 qualifier with a 4.671-second elapsed time), we figured we could run a high 4.60," said Capps, who also receives support from Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels, of the last run. "It's complicated, but the clutch just didn't wear the way we wanted it to. Actually, it wasn't wearing enough. It rattled the tires a few times down there and when it tried to lock the clutch up it rattled the tires. Any time you do that you lose elapsed time.
"It's funny how we're so disappointed with a run like that. A lot of times during the season it would have made a lot of teams ecstatic. But, right now, [the championship] is just basically going to boil down to who goes the furthest. We're all on the same side of the ladder, so it's going to make for a very interesting day tomorrow.
"We're happy we have lane choice. We thought we would qualify a lot better than we did, but in typical Pomona end-of-the-year fashion, the weather cooled off and guys were throwing shots out, and we just need to be one of those guys throwing the shots out at the end of the day like that.
"Sunday is race day and we know how the Brut Revolution Dodge team is on race day. I'm going to show up on Sunday morning with all the confidence in the world."
Capps faces Tim Wilkerson in the opening round.
