Finishing amongst the three quickest drivers in all four qualifying rounds enabled Ron Capps to put the NAPA AUTO PARTS PlatinumNAPAFilters Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car into the third starting position for Sunday’s 24th-annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals here at Infineon Raceway.
The cool evening air of Friday’s second session provided the setting for the run which captured the top-half-of-the-field position as Capps recorded a 4.107-second lap at 305.77 miles per hour.
That round, plus success in the other three (4.156, 4.202 and 4.210), earned the California native seven bonus points, which might prove helpful in securing a better position in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car standings heading into the playoffs.
“One of the great qualities Tim Richards (crew chief) has is how much he hates to lose,” said Capps. “Not only does he hate to lose, he also wants to win every round and every point he can – whether it’s in qualifying or on race day.”
The California native motors into the race, which begins at 11 a.m. PT, tied for seventh place in the standings with Jeff Arend (who did not qualify), and 26 points (less than two race-round wins) behind number-one qualifier John Force, who is currently sixth.
According to Capps, his first-round match against 14th-qualifier and ninth-place holder Bob Tasca III will not be easy, despite the disparity in qualifying positions.
“It’s going to be a tough race,” he said. “Actually, every match in Funny Car this year is tough. We just have to continue getting down the track consistently.
“What’s also tough is that we have not won since this race last year, which is a situation we would like to change very soon. Like I said, Tim doesn’t like to lose and neither do I!”
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