Capps Rolls to Fourth Semifinals in Five NHRA Races

COMMERCE, Ga (May 19, 2014) – A rainy weekend for NHRA races at Atlanta Dragway couldn’t wash away the optimism of Ron Capps and the confidence he has in his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T.

Ron advanced to his fourth semifinal rounds of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series season and was able to move up one spot to fourth in the series standings, but is still seeking his first championship round after seven of 24 events on the circuit.

“Weekends like this you instantly have to find the silver lining and no pun intended with the rainy weekend but the silver lining is that Tobler came in here with a different outlook on his tune up, going back a couple of years and stealing something from the way he ran the car a couple years ago and implementing it into the way he runs the car today,” Ron said.

“We are making way more power now, Don Schumacher Racing cylinder heads and everything and the new superchargers are really working well. Everything is working great. Really this is one of those races where you have to gut it out.

“Us losing lane choice in the semis was probably why we lost. You can’t make excuses but if we were in the left lane again we surely would’ve went out and ran as good as Robert (Hight) did and made a good race out of it.”

“I have to give props to Tobler and the team for going down that lane. Making a 4.12 run down that right lane which was very tricky, that’s almost a win right there. Another semifinals and we’ll head to Topeka. I don’t want to get old but I know a win is coming soon. It makes you feel good.”

The Mello Yello Series heads west for next weekend’s NHRA races at Heartland Park Topeka.

FUNNY CAR

Event winner: Robert Hight (John Force Racing)
No. 1 Qualifier: Alexis DeJoria (Kalitta Motorsports) 4.012 sec. (track record), 313.95 mph

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 7
ELIMINATIONS
FIRST ROUND: CAPPS (4.095 sec., 309.20 mph) def. Jack Beckman (4.150, 251.77); QUARTERFINALS: CAPPS (4.060, 314.68) def. Chad Head (10.165, 73.65); SEMIFINALS: Robert Hight (4.074, 313.66) def. CAPPS (4.120, 314.75)

QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.095 sec., 309.20 mph, (Session 1); 7.107, 86.15 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 7.301, 80.85 (Session 3); 10.297, 81.53 (Session 4)

NHRA MELLO YELLO TOP FUEL STANDINGS

FUNNY CAR
(unofficial through Atlanta)
driver (wins), points
1. Robert Hight (4), 730
2. John Force (1), 524
3. Alexis DeJoria (2), 472
4. RON CAPPS (0), 430
5. Del Worsham (0), 400
6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR., 380
7. JACK BECKMAN (0), 369
8. Courtney Force (0), 369
9. MATT HAGAN (0), 368
10. Tim Wilkerson (0), 329