Mopar HEMI(R)-Powered Capps Claims Runner-Up at Brainerd
NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T driver Ron Capps reached his seventh Funny Car final round of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Sunday, Aug. 16, losing in the finals at Brainerd International Raceway to Funny Car class points leader Tony Pedregon. The Mopar HEMI-powered Capps remains in second, and is now 28 points behind, with two races remaining before the Countdown to 1 playoffs begin following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend.
Capps, who qualified No. 2, eliminated Tim Wilkerson with the event's lowest elapsed time (4.115 seconds) in the first round, then bumped out Bob Tasca in the second round, with another stout run of 4.163 seconds. In the semifinals he faced 14-time champion John Force. Force had the edge at the starting lights, but both cars lost traction and performed a spectacular pedalfest for the fans, with Capps recovering first to take the win with a 5.281/213.91 pass to Force's 5.859/154.19.
That lost lane choice for the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver in his final round fight against Pedregon, resulting in an early loss of traction, which slowed him to a losing 6.613/99.35, while Pedregon cruised to the victory with a 4.149/295.59.
"We're having fun right now," said Capps. "And it's just a precursor to the Countdown and it's a good time right now to start peaking."
Capps' DSR teammate, Jack Beckman, drove his Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a semifinals appearance, where Pedregon ended his day. Beckman moved to fourth in the standings and clinched his spot in the Countdown. DSR driver Matt Hagan exited in the first round at the hands of another Pedregon brother, Cruz Pedregon. Next up for the Mopar-powered trio is the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Aug. 21–23.