Reading: Ron Capps Friday summary

Ron Capps Qualifies No. 1 Friday at Reading

MOHNTON, Pa. (Oct. 8, 2004) - Ron Capps blasted his Don Prudhomme-owned green Skoal RacingSM Chevy Monte Carlo to low elapsed time of the Funny Car category after the first two qualifying sessions were completed Friday at Maple Grove Raceway.

The 14-time NHRA winner used a tune-up from co-crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler to power his Chevy flopper to a performance of 4.796 seconds at 318.47 mph to claim the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot at the ultra-quick Reading track. The veteran driver stopped the clocks at 4.957 at 292.71 on his opening effort, placing him sixth following Friday's first qualifying session. Capps' best qualifying effort this season was third at the first Las Vegas event in April.

"I just called my mom and she almost cried on the phone," Capps said. "It's kind of neat because on the last run at Chicago, the car didn't make it to the finish line because of parts breakage, but it was on a killer pass. Todd (Okuhara) predicted it would run a high 4.70 and it did. The guys have been trying really hard and things are coming together. All the guys on the green Skoal Racing crew have earned it."

Capps looks to maintain his place atop the Funny Car qualifying order when qualifying continues with sessions scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. Capps' last No. 1 qualifying effort was at the Brainerd, Minn. event in 2000. He has claimed the top qualifying spot six times in his career.

-www.snakeracing.com