NHRA

Ron Capps ready for Supernationals at Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas - If the team's latest performance is an accurate indication - and there's no reason to believe it isn't - potential is beginning to equal reality in the Copenhagen Racing Camaro Funny Car camp. Three races into his new ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

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BAYTOWN, Texas - If the team's latest performance is an accurate indication - and there's no reason to believe it isn't - potential is beginning to equal reality in the Copenhagen Racing Camaro Funny Car camp. Three races into his new position as crew chief on Don Prudhomme's Funny Car, Dale Armstrong has given driver Ron Capps a competitive and consistent ride. "The way Dale sets up this car it's an animal to drive," said Capps while looking forward to his next event, the Matco Tools Supernationals, Oct. 29-31, at Houston Raceway Park. "Every run he gets he finds something he can file away as information for the future. We're going to have a fast car for the rest of 1999 and we're excited. The plan was to have Dale use the rest of this year to get ready for 2000." Judging from Capps' performance at Sunday's Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Armstrong will be more than ready when the 2000 campaign begins. The Cope Racing Camaro displayed consistency and turned in competitive numbers. After a tire-spinning first qualifying run, Capps made six consecutive runs, registering times of 4.950, 4.908, 4.964, 4.899, 4.973 and 4.873. His best speed was 310.98 mph. And he drove into the semifinals where he challenged John Force. "It was a great race," said Capps after his close battle with Force, who won and went on to clinch his ninth championship. "We were right with him. I would see his fender out my window, then it would disappear, and then I'd see I again. It was fun." Capps' best run of the weekend (4.873 at 310.55 mph) came against Force, who won with a 4.824 (his quickest run of the weekend) at 309.27 mph. "We were confident going into that round," Capps commented, "because we'd found out why the engine dropped cylinders in the second round (a 4.973-second win over Cruz Pedregon). It was encouraging to run with Force. We were right with him. "Our car is a real hot rod. It will be fun in Houston." Capps has two more opportunities to win races this season, here and Pomona, Calif., site of the Auto Club Finals, Nov. 12-14. -30- Ron Capps Facts:

Age: 34 Hometown: La Costa, Calif.

Final-round record: 8/13 (7/11 Funny Car, 1/2 Top Fuel); Last win: Topeka, Kan., 10/17/98;

Quickest time: 4.864 seconds; Fastest speed: 315.45 mph

At Houston: His best finish is a semifinal at this race last year

1999 Winston Series Standing: 7th, 823 points

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