Indy ORP: Ron Capps Saturday notes

CAPPS OUTSIDE OF TOP 12 AFTER THREE OF FIVE QUALIFYING RUNS AT U.S. NATS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 5, 2009) - NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Funny Car driver Ron Capps and crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch were going for the pole position in the two night sessions held on Friday and Saturday at the 55th annual U.S. Nationals at Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out for them, and Capps finds himself on the outside of the top 12 heading into the two final rounds of qualifying on Sunday for Monday's eliminations. His best pass of 4.225 seconds at 292.65 mph came in the one day-time session today. Friday's single pass produced a tire-smoking 8.130/181.06 and tonight's run was similar, in which Capps slowed to a 14.561/56.69. He will have to re-qualify on Sunday.

"This is Indy," said the five-time season titlist. "And having the two night sessions is something you don't see at most tracks. Ace and the NAPA guys were trying to put it in the show in the No. 1 spot and sometimes that's what happens when you get that aggressive. And we found the edge.

"The trick is going to be tomorrow. There is a storm supposedly coming that's going to bring some cool conditions. You could very well see runs as good as we saw tonight even during the day. The conditions tonight were awesome."

-credit: dsr