Englishtown: Johnson, Capps finals summary

Johnson sixth in points, Capps eighth after Supernationals.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., May 19, 2002 - Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. reversed roles during the Matco Tools SuperNationals this weekend at Raceway Park.

Two weeks ago, Capps qualified the Green Skoal Racing Camaro at the Southern Nationals while Johnson's Blue Skoal Racing Funny Car failed to make the field. This time around it was Capps on the sidelines watching Johnson.

And Johnson, as Capps did, lost in the opening round.

Team owner Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and crew chief Ed "The Ace" McCulloch admit the team is struggling, but Prudhomme vowed to keep searching for answers as the two crews prepare for the O'Reilly Summernationals at Topeka, Kan., May 24-26.

"We'll work on it until we get in better," said Prudhomme.

The crews battled changing weather conditions - warm and wet on Friday; cold and wet on Saturday; and sunny and cool during Sunday's eliminations. The second Friday qualifying session was washed out and both Capps and Johnson could've used another run.

Johnson's best run, 5.039 seconds at 304.60 mph, came on his final attempt and put him into the program, but in doing so it knocked out Capps, who was 15th going into the third session. Capps' car spun the tires hard and his 5.299 at 213.64 wound up 18th.

Johnson's day ended with a cylinder-dropping 5.990 at 154.55 to Cruz Pedregon's 4.863 at 318.24.

Johnson remained sixth in points with 413 while Capps dropped to eighth with 364.

Qualifying: Johnson, No. 14, 5.039 seconds at 304.60 mph; Capps did not qualify

First round: Cruz Pedregon def. Johnson

Pro Winners: Kenny Bernstein, Top Fuel; Gary Densham, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock

-skoal racing-