READING A PIVOTAL RACE FOR CAPPS
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/r_capps_642736.jpg" alt="r_capps_642736" align="left"borders="0"/>
MOHNTON, Pa. (Aug. 12, 2008) - This weekend's 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, outside of Reading, Pa., is the first of the final two NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events before the Countdown to 1 championship playoffs for the top 10 begin following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
For Ron Capps, who drives the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, it is a pivotal event. No. 8 in points, the California native is targeting a move up into the top five in order to enter the playoffs with a stronger margin. If he remains in eighth, he will start the playoffs 90 markers behind No. 1; if he moves into fifth place, he will be down only 60 points, once the totals are reset for the playoffs.
But, before the race weekend even begins at Maple Grove, two NHRA teams will play in the NHRA Softball Classic, slated for Aug. 14 at the Reading Phillies’ FirstEnergy Stadium. Capps was the first pick in a draft for players by his DSR teammate Gary Scelzi, the coach of Scelzi's Superchargers. The other team, led by coach Antron Brown, is the Burn Down Bombers.
Game day will begin with an autograph session from 5 to 6 p.m. and continue with the first pitch at 7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women), a group that in addition to providing emotional support has since 1985 given more than $3 million to injured drag racers.
"We're going to raise some money at the softball game for a very good cause, but it's kind of turned into another Prelude to the Dream (Tony Stewart's annual dirt-track charity event at Eldora Speedway)," said Capps. "It's all for raising money and it's all fun. But, I tell you, based on the practice we had in Brainerd and the scrimmage between the two teams, there are some serious players in this deal. Nobody wants to lose, so much in fact that our coach 'Wild Thing' - which is an appropriate nickname for him because of his pitching skills (said with a laugh) - called a second double-top-secret practice. I'm really excited about this game.
"I'm also excited about another back-to-back national event. I love them, especially if the previous weekend doesn’t go too well, like what happened in Brainerd (Minn.) last weekend. We did go a couple of rounds, but you want to get right back up on the horse. Reading is a very fast track. It's a wonderful track, very scenic, and it should have completely different atmospheric and weather conditions than we had in Brainerd.
"We're getting down close to the Countdown and Reading every year seems to be important, no matter how the season's going. It always seems to stand out, so you'd better have your act together going there, and I feel comfortable with my crew chief Ed “Ace” McCulloch and the NAPA Dodge guys right now."
Capps, of Carlsbad, Calif., in his 25 career triumphs, has never won a national event at Maple Grove. He was Funny Car runner-up twice: in 1999 (Tommy Johnson Jr.), and in 2000 (Bruce Sarver).
Tickets for the NHRA Softball Classic may be purchased through the Reading Phillies ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium, by visiting readingphillies.com or by calling (610) 375-8469.
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in Funny Car points after 16 2008 events; one runner-up, four semifinal, three quarterfinal finishes, eight first-rounds
* Qualified No. 4 in Reading in 2007, lost second round to Tony Pedregon
* Has not won a national event in Reading
* 2008 win-loss record is 14-16
* No. 4 in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Led 2007 Funny Car point standings by as much as 154 points through 14 of the first 17 races of the season
* Had three wins in seven final rounds in 2007; two semifinal finishes, four quarterfinals, nine first rounds, and one DNQ
* Round win-loss record in 2007 was 32-19
* NAPA AUTO PARTS is new primary sponsor for 2008
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2005
* Has three U.S. Smokeless Showdown titles: 1998, 1999 and 2002
* Third in 2006 final point standings
* Had class-best five wins in 2006
* Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first
win for DSR in '05)
* 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title
* Qualified No. 1 once in 2005, in Dallas; first time since Brainerd 2000
* Has seven career No. 1 qualifiers, none in 2006, '07, or '08 so far
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998, 2000 and 2005
* He has 25 event wins in 53 final rounds to his credit (24 national event wins in Funny Car, one in Top Fuel)
* His career-best elapsed time (established during an event) is 4.694 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas
* His career-best speed is 331.61 mph (Pomona 1, '07)
* Capps' career round win-loss record is 328-247
* Capps' career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-40 in round wins. He's won nine of the last 13 meetings against Force, and has won the last four of five first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 43 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
* Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (11) and son Caden (7)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/r_capps_642736.jpg" alt="r_capps_642736" align="left"borders="0"/>
MOHNTON, Pa. (Aug. 12, 2008) - This weekend's 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, outside of Reading, Pa., is the first of the final two NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events before the Countdown to 1 championship playoffs for the top 10 begin following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
For Ron Capps, who drives the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, it is a pivotal event. No. 8 in points, the California native is targeting a move up into the top five in order to enter the playoffs with a stronger margin. If he remains in eighth, he will start the playoffs 90 markers behind No. 1; if he moves into fifth place, he will be down only 60 points, once the totals are reset for the playoffs.
But, before the race weekend even begins at Maple Grove, two NHRA teams will play in the NHRA Softball Classic, slated for Aug. 14 at the Reading Phillies’ FirstEnergy Stadium. Capps was the first pick in a draft for players by his DSR teammate Gary Scelzi, the coach of Scelzi's Superchargers. The other team, led by coach Antron Brown, is the Burn Down Bombers.
Game day will begin with an autograph session from 5 to 6 p.m. and continue with the first pitch at 7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women), a group that in addition to providing emotional support has since 1985 given more than $3 million to injured drag racers.
"We're going to raise some money at the softball game for a very good cause, but it's kind of turned into another Prelude to the Dream (Tony Stewart's annual dirt-track charity event at Eldora Speedway)," said Capps. "It's all for raising money and it's all fun. But, I tell you, based on the practice we had in Brainerd and the scrimmage between the two teams, there are some serious players in this deal. Nobody wants to lose, so much in fact that our coach 'Wild Thing' - which is an appropriate nickname for him because of his pitching skills (said with a laugh) - called a second double-top-secret practice. I'm really excited about this game.
"I'm also excited about another back-to-back national event. I love them, especially if the previous weekend doesn’t go too well, like what happened in Brainerd (Minn.) last weekend. We did go a couple of rounds, but you want to get right back up on the horse. Reading is a very fast track. It's a wonderful track, very scenic, and it should have completely different atmospheric and weather conditions than we had in Brainerd.
"We're getting down close to the Countdown and Reading every year seems to be important, no matter how the season's going. It always seems to stand out, so you'd better have your act together going there, and I feel comfortable with my crew chief Ed “Ace” McCulloch and the NAPA Dodge guys right now."
Capps, of Carlsbad, Calif., in his 25 career triumphs, has never won a national event at Maple Grove. He was Funny Car runner-up twice: in 1999 (Tommy Johnson Jr.), and in 2000 (Bruce Sarver).
Tickets for the NHRA Softball Classic may be purchased through the Reading Phillies ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium, by visiting readingphillies.com or by calling (610) 375-8469.
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in Funny Car points after 16 2008 events; one runner-up, four semifinal, three quarterfinal finishes, eight first-rounds
* Qualified No. 4 in Reading in 2007, lost second round to Tony Pedregon
* Has not won a national event in Reading
* 2008 win-loss record is 14-16
* No. 4 in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Led 2007 Funny Car point standings by as much as 154 points through 14 of the first 17 races of the season
* Had three wins in seven final rounds in 2007; two semifinal finishes, four quarterfinals, nine first rounds, and one DNQ
* Round win-loss record in 2007 was 32-19
* NAPA AUTO PARTS is new primary sponsor for 2008
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2005
* Has three U.S. Smokeless Showdown titles: 1998, 1999 and 2002
* Third in 2006 final point standings
* Had class-best five wins in 2006
* Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first
win for DSR in '05)
* 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title
* Qualified No. 1 once in 2005, in Dallas; first time since Brainerd 2000
* Has seven career No. 1 qualifiers, none in 2006, '07, or '08 so far
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998, 2000 and 2005
* He has 25 event wins in 53 final rounds to his credit (24 national event wins in Funny Car, one in Top Fuel)
* His career-best elapsed time (established during an event) is 4.694 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas
* His career-best speed is 331.61 mph (Pomona 1, '07)
* Capps' career round win-loss record is 328-247
* Capps' career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-40 in round wins. He's won nine of the last 13 meetings against Force, and has won the last four of five first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 43 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
* Lives in Carlsbad, Calif., with wife Shelley and daughter Taylor (11) and son Caden (7)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts
