Race report

NHRA

Capps wins zMAX Funny Car title

Edited: Sep 17, 2012, 8:58 PM

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CONCORD, N.C. - The dynamic duo of driver Ron Capps and crew chief Rahn Tobler put their NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T in the winner's circle Sunday night to extend their points lead in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Ron Capps

Photo by: NHRA

Not even a four-hour rain delay to start the NHRA Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway's zMAX Dragway at Concord, N.C., could cool off the Don Schumacher Racing team.

Capps easily defeated Mike Neff of John Force Racing in the championship round to give the NAPA AUTO PARTS team a fourth win in 18 events that ties for the most by a Funny Car this season.

Neff's car lost traction when he hit the throttle and slowed to a 10.406-second run at 79.25 mph while Capps closed out his blistering pace with a time of 4.067 at 315.49.

"It just happens so fast, but what a race car. It gives me confidence, but I was a nervous wreck before Round 1," said Capps, who now owns 37 NHRA national event titles. "Lo and behold, we were able to gut it out without lane choice in the 2nd round in the semis. Rahn Tobler came through."

Capps started the first event in the six-event Countdown to the Championship in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series with the points lead and he extended it to 73 points over Neff, who moved around JFR's Robert Hight into second.

The NAPA team completed its four runs in eliminations between 4.047 seconds and 4.067 seconds, which is an astounding show of performance and consistency.

A sporadic drizzle and light rain throughout the morning and afternoon delayed by four hours the start of the opening event in the six-race Countdown to the Championship. But after diligent work by the NHRA Safety Safari to dry and prepare the track, racing began at 4 p.m.

The following are Capps' results from the NHRA Nationals near Charlotte and unofficial Funny Car Countdown standings:

FUNNY CAR
EVENT WINNER: RON CAPPS
No. 1: Tim Wilkerson, 4.048 sec., 309.70 mph

Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 4
Round 1: CAPPS (4.069 sec., 312.06 mph) def. Jim Head (5.423, 137.30)
Round 2: CAPPS (4.047, 317.85) def. Cruz Pedregon (4.541,188.31)
Semifinals: CAPPS (4.047, 317.85) def. MATT HAGAN (4.343, 218.65)
Final: CAPPS (4.067, 315.49) def. Mike Neff (10.406, 79.25)

Source: Don Schumacher Racing

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