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CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 22, 2008) - Now that Ron Capps, crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car crew have a semifinal finish under their belts at the last event in Las Vegas, they're aiming for their first season win at the NHRA Southern Nationals this weekend at Atlanta Dragway.
Capps, who has 25 national-event wins to his credit in 52 final rounds, has never won the Southern Nationals, although crew chief McCulloch has three Funny Car victories, second only to John Force's seven. Capps does, however, have three runner-ups at this track, in 1995, 2000 and 2001.
"Atlanta is one of the tracks that I have not won at, but I've been to several finals and I've always done well there in the past," said Capps, who's focused on moving up in the point standings out of the No. 10 spot and winning his first event of the year.
"At this point of the season, as weird as the season has started off, our semifinal result at Vegas was a huge boost for the team. There is no better time than right now (to win our first race). NAPA's headquarters is located in Atlanta, and there are many corporate sponsors located in that area. So it's a very big race for the NHRA drag-racing community.
"I have a lot of friends in NASCAR who are coming over from Charlotte," added Capps, "and it's a really pivotal race every year. You can guarantee that it's going to be warm, and probably tricky. Any time we see heat on the track, we take it seriously. The drivers and crew chiefs are kind of battling the track conditions a little more than usual this year. And, on top of that, they're trying to learn these new cars with the added weight on them (an extra 100 pounds was added to the Funny Cars for 2008).
"So, now that we've got our hot rod back, I'm excited about the races coming up, including the St. Louis race right after this one. And this is when I like to make NAPA proud to have signed up to be on the side of our race car. We have great things to come with NAPA AUTO PARTS, and we just want to give them the success on the track they deserve."
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in Funny Car points after five 2008 events; one semifinal, four first-round losses
* Has no wins at Atlanta Dragway
* Three runner-up finishes in Atlanta: 1995, 2000, 2001
* Qualified No. 6 at 2007 Southern Nationals, lost semis to Robert Hight
* 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 Skoal 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 52 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 315-235
* Capps' career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-38 in round wins. He's won nine of the last 11 meetings against Force, and has won the last four first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 42 (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 (6)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday April 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, April 25, 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, April 26, 6-6:30 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, April 27, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
WITH NAPA HOT ROD BACK ON TRACK, CAPPS AIMS FOR ATLANTA WIN
CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 22, 2008) - Now that Ron Capps, crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car crew have a semifinal finish under their belts at the last event in Las Vegas, they're aiming for their first season win at the NHRA Southern Nationals this weekend at Atlanta Dragway.
Capps, who has 25 national-event wins to his credit in 52 final rounds, has never won the Southern Nationals, although crew chief McCulloch has three Funny Car victories, second only to John Force's seven. Capps does, however, have three runner-ups at this track, in 1995, 2000 and 2001.
"Atlanta is one of the tracks that I have not won at, but I've been to several finals and I've always done well there in the past," said Capps, who's focused on moving up in the point standings out of the No. 10 spot and winning his first event of the year.
"At this point of the season, as weird as the season has started off, our semifinal result at Vegas was a huge boost for the team. There is no better time than right now (to win our first race). NAPA's headquarters is located in Atlanta, and there are many corporate sponsors located in that area. So it's a very big race for the NHRA drag-racing community.
"I have a lot of friends in NASCAR who are coming over from Charlotte," added Capps, "and it's a really pivotal race every year. You can guarantee that it's going to be warm, and probably tricky. Any time we see heat on the track, we take it seriously. The drivers and crew chiefs are kind of battling the track conditions a little more than usual this year. And, on top of that, they're trying to learn these new cars with the added weight on them (an extra 100 pounds was added to the Funny Cars for 2008).
"So, now that we've got our hot rod back, I'm excited about the races coming up, including the St. Louis race right after this one. And this is when I like to make NAPA proud to have signed up to be on the side of our race car. We have great things to come with NAPA AUTO PARTS, and we just want to give them the success on the track they deserve."
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in Funny Car points after five 2008 events; one semifinal, four first-round losses
* Has no wins at Atlanta Dragway
* Three runner-up finishes in Atlanta: 1995, 2000, 2001
* Qualified No. 6 at 2007 Southern Nationals, lost semis to Robert Hight
* 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 Skoal 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 52 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 315-235
* Capps' career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-38 in round wins. He's won nine of the last 11 meetings against Force, and has won the last four first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 42 (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 (6)
* Has tested for IROC Series and competed in Skip Barber Formula Ford, Dirt Late Models, Mini-Sprints and Go-Karts
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday April 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, April 25, 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, April 26, 6-6:30 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, April 27, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) – Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, vertical)
