Bristol: Johnson, Capps eliminations summary

Johnson goes to Quarterfinals; Capps loses in first round.

BRISTOL, Tenn., April 27, 2003 - Two things NHRA Funny Car crew chiefs have no control over are weather and parts breakage. Weather forced a four-hour delay in the Saturday night Mac Tools Thunder Valley Nationals qualifying and Sunday's sunny weather tormented crew chiefs.

Skoal Racing Funny Car drivers Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. qualified well - Johnson fourth at 4.805 seconds, 314.83 mph and Capps seventh at 4.852 at 308.28 - but were eliminated early.

Capps' Green Skoal Racing Camaro had mechanical trouble in its first-round match against Del Worsham while Johnson's Blue Skoal Racing Camaro advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Whit Bazemore when the tires spun and smoked.

"That (tire smoke) was totally unexpected," Johnson said. "We were optimistic going into the race, but even so, I'm still impressed with the way our car has been running. We are doing better, going rounds."

Johnson's car was consistent, running a pair of 4.8s, 4.863 and 4.807 seconds, during the night sessions - the second was unplanned but necessitated by Saturday's rain. Johnson won a tire-smoking 5.036 to 6.402 seconds decision over Dale Creasy in the first round.

Capps wasn't able to put up a good fight against Worsham due to a clutch problem, Worsham winning with a 4.928 to a 5.984. Worsham went on to win the race.

"We were able to get qualified well on Friday with a 4.874 and came back and ran 4.852 on Friday night," said Capps. "We broke a pilot bearing in the clutch on the run against Del, otherwise it could've in the 4.80s - according to the computer's incremental numbers."

Capps is fifth in points with 353 and Johnson seventh with 317.

The Skoal Racing team returns to action Friday through Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga.

-dpr-