Ron Capps threw out a stunning pass in the fifth and final Funny Car qualifying session for the U.S. Nationals today, posting the quickest run of the round in the heat of the day of 4.173 seconds at 295.92 mph.
While that run did not improve his position in the field and he remained No. 11, it served notice that the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T is a serious contender to win Capps his first U.S. Nationals title in Monday’s eliminations.
His other passes throughout the weekend included a 4.179/293.03 (No. 4), 4.219/290.57 (No. 4), 4.144/298.47 (No. 11) and 4.226/291.26 (No. 11 and first round of the Showdown).
In the $100,000 Showdown bonus event, he faced points leader Tim Wilkerson. Capps nailed a stout run of 4.226 seconds at 291.26 mph, but it was no match for Wilkerson’s quickest run of the entire Showdown of 4.141/299.13.
“Great run,” said Capps of his final qualifying attempt. “We took a whooping first round of the Showdown. Wilkerson unleashed that 4.14, and our 4.22 would have won most other rounds in the Showdown.
“It’s typical of (crew chief) Ed ‘Ace’ McCulloch: when he gets angry the car does well, and he was really angry that we got beat. And that .17 was the quickest of that round in the heat. We know the conditions are going to be the same for tomorrow and that part excites me.
“There’s really nothing better as a driver than to make your last qualifying run one that goes to the finish line. But, really, you want it to be a good run so you sleep good that night, and the NAPA guys, I say it time and time again, are so under-rated. You never hear much about the crew guys, but for Ace to make his calls and for me to be able to drive that car the NAPA crew gives me, which is a great car every time, is awesome. We’re clicking as a team right now. It couldn’t be a better time to be going into the Countdown.”
The Countdown to 1 playoffs for the top 10 in points begins following the U.S. Nationals in the final six events of the season. Capps is No. 8 and could move up in the standings with a good result in eliminations.
Capps faces Melanie Troxel in the opening round of eliminations on Monday.
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