Commerce: Ron Capps Saturday notes

CAPPS ENDS ATLANTA QUALIFYING NO. 10 IN FIELD

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 26, 2008) - Under warm, spring-like conditions at Atlanta Dragway, and in the shadow of NAPA AUTO PARTS headquarters, Ron Capps piloted the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T into the No. 10 qualifying position for the NHRA Southern Nationals.

The California native recorded a string of solid passes, with his quickest run of 4.882 seconds at 310.34 mph coming in the cooler Friday night session, which placed him No. 8 at the time. His other laps included a 4.943/302.48 (No. 3), a 5.008/295.14 (No. 8), and finally a 4.929/300.00 (fifth quickest of that round).

"We started this week off with a visit to the NAPA headquarters in Atlanta, we did an autograph session with Michael Waltrip, and just had a good time," said Capps, No. 10 in the Funny Car point standings. "This is kind of the backyard of NAPA, so obviously any time you feel like you can show off in front of your sponsors is a good thing.

"We had the biggest of the big wigs here this weekend, NAPA president Bob Susor and his wife Lin. And it's been so far, so good. They hadn't been to a drag race in years, so it was really neat for them to come out.

"Racing-wise, we have gone down the track every run, which is what we were known for the last few years. And that's what we're trying to get this NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge back to, is being consistent.

"As for this track, you never know. The weather could change so quickly. You could have ideal mineshaft conditions that warrant 4.70-second runs and half an hour later you could be lucky to run five flat.

"So, we're going to play the conditions on Sunday. We have a tough first-round match-up with Robert Hight. Any time you run those John Force Racing guys you expect it to be the final round, not first round. We're going to have to just get up in the morning and see what the weather brings us."

-credit: dsr