<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/r_capps07.jpg" alt="r_capps07" align="right"borders="0"/>
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9, 2007) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader Ron Capps qualified No. 2, behind teammate Gary Scelzi, for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals today, and watched his closest competitor in points, Robert Hight, fail to qualify, as Capps had done last weekend in Topeka, Kan.
Steering the Brut "Test Drive" Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Capps recorded runs of 5.442/192.08, his quickest of 4.755/326.87 Friday night, a 5.281/201.70, and a 4.860/317.79 in today's final pass under a hot sun.
Other top drivers who failed to qualify this weekend include Topeka Funny Car winner Mike Ashley and Topeka Top Fuel champion Brandon Bernstein.
"We're coming off a DNQ, so it's unbelievable," said Capps. "I had a week to think about it. And you get here and we're hoping we have everything that we had prior to putting the new car together for Topeka. And, of course we did, we qualified No. 2, which is great. The Brut "Test Drive" Dodge is going down the track in the heat of the day.
"That was a great run, an .86," he said of the last pass, "but to see the list of those teams that didn't qualify is really a surprise. As I've said before, it just tells you how tough it is out here. Just qualifying is a major, major feat. We were real worried. We didn't say so last week - we did have a new chassis, but we didn't want to blame it on that - so we were a little apprehensive. And I've never seen Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) as nervous as he was Friday before the first run. I gave him a hug Friday night. I knew he felt better after that run Friday night. We're just having a good time right now."
Capps faces Tom Wilkerson in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
CAPPS TAKES THE NO. 2 SPOT IN CHICAGO QUALIFYING
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9, 2007) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader Ron Capps qualified No. 2, behind teammate Gary Scelzi, for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals today, and watched his closest competitor in points, Robert Hight, fail to qualify, as Capps had done last weekend in Topeka, Kan.
Steering the Brut "Test Drive" Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Capps recorded runs of 5.442/192.08, his quickest of 4.755/326.87 Friday night, a 5.281/201.70, and a 4.860/317.79 in today's final pass under a hot sun.
Other top drivers who failed to qualify this weekend include Topeka Funny Car winner Mike Ashley and Topeka Top Fuel champion Brandon Bernstein.
"We're coming off a DNQ, so it's unbelievable," said Capps. "I had a week to think about it. And you get here and we're hoping we have everything that we had prior to putting the new car together for Topeka. And, of course we did, we qualified No. 2, which is great. The Brut "Test Drive" Dodge is going down the track in the heat of the day.
"That was a great run, an .86," he said of the last pass, "but to see the list of those teams that didn't qualify is really a surprise. As I've said before, it just tells you how tough it is out here. Just qualifying is a major, major feat. We were real worried. We didn't say so last week - we did have a new chassis, but we didn't want to blame it on that - so we were a little apprehensive. And I've never seen Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) as nervous as he was Friday before the first run. I gave him a hug Friday night. I knew he felt better after that run Friday night. We're just having a good time right now."
Capps faces Tom Wilkerson in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
