Mopar-Powered Capps Claims Win at Mopar Mile-Highs
Mopar HEMI-powered NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Ron Capps added another victory to Mopar's win column at the brand's headline event. The Don Schumacher Racing pilot scored his fifth Funny Car win in six final rounds of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series on Sunday, July 12 at the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
The triumph was the 30th of Capps' career in 60 final rounds, and the Funny Car veteran is now tied with event runner-up Ashley Force Hood in class point standings. His record of 58 final rounds in Funny Car is the fourth best in the history of the class. Capps also has one win in two final rounds in the Top Fuel class.
En route to the final round, Capps disposed of Gary Densham with a stout 4.217-second run at 290.51 mph in the opening stanza, then sent home Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinal with a 4.173/293.98. His semifinal match-up against his teammate Jack Beckman produced a 4.203/294.63 win, despite a lack of lane choice for the first time.
He regained lane choice for the final round against Force Hood, making a strong and convincing run to take the victory by a margin of 29 feet, using another stellar and consistent run of 4.187/297.22 to triumph over the popular racer.
"What a great deal," said Capps. "I was told there was only five tracks we haven't won at, and now it's four. I wanted to win here for so long. I've been to three final rounds now here and the Bandimeres make it so nice to come here and the people in this area are just wonderful. To win here is big."
Next up is the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., July 17-19.