NHRA

Capps to join NASCAR drivers on Eldora's dirt

CARLSBAD, Calif. (June 6, 2005) - Ron Capps, who drives the Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and will do so this weekend at the CARQUEST NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, ...

Published: Jun 6, 2005, 8:45 PM

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (June 6, 2005) - Ron Capps, who drives the Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and will do so this weekend at the CARQUEST NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., will make a side trip to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 8, to run the Nextel Prelude to the Dream.

Capps, of Carlsbad, Calif., will join NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Dave Blaney, Kenny Schrader, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Green, Mike Wallace, as well as World of Outlaws' Danny Lasoski, and the legendary Red Farmer, in dirt Super Late Model cars in this inaugural promotional event on the one-half-mile clay oval.

A brief practice session will acclimate the Prelude drivers to their assigned Late Models prior to taking single-lap qualifying runs to determine their placement in one of two preliminary heat races. Those finishing positions will then be used for placement in the Prelude finale, as the 'stars' will be racing against each other for bragging rights.

"I grew up loving dirt racing, so Eldora is kind of the holy grail of dirt tracks," said Capps, who is sixth in NHRA Funny Car points after nine races. "It's one of the, if not THE most prestigious dirt tracks in the country.

"This event is kind of like an IROC race," added Capps, 39, who tested for the IROC series in 2003, "because they're all identical dirt cars. And, as a drag racer, to be invited to race with the likes of Harvick, Kenseth, Stewart and Kyle Petty, and even the legendary Red Farmer, is quite and honor. Racing against them will be a great experience.

"It's going to be a serious race. Those guys don't like to lose. So, it's not just a fun deal; it'll be a pretty serious race. But it's also going to be a lot of fun.

"I met a few of these drivers when I went IROC testing. They're all great guys and it's really cool that they are big drag-racing fans. When I was in Talladega testing for IROC a lot of them came up and said they've been watching what I do in drag racing, and that is a big compliment.

"But I'm sure that if I get in front of one of them in the race, they're not going to hesitate to remind me that I'm a drag racer."

Gates for the sold-out Nextel Prelude to the Dream open at 3:30 p.m., with the first round of practice slated for 6:30 and the racing set to take the green flag at 8:00 PM.

More information may be found on www.eldoraspeedway.com.

-dsr-

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