Capps primed for solid Texas showing

CARLSBAD, Calif. Sept. 17, 2008 - In the midst of an exciting Countdown to 1 playoffs battle among 10 Funny Car drivers for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series championship, Ron Capps is primed for a strong showing at this weekend's 23rd NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

Capps, who drives the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher Racing, has enjoyed past success at this venue, having won the class there in 1998, and, more surprising for the driver who's better known for his consistency and victories than his No. 1 qualifiers, sat on the pole at the Motorplex in 1997 and 2005.

No. 7 in the point standings following last weekend's opening playoffs event in Concord, N.C., Capps is 92 points out of the lead, with five of the six playoffs races left in the season. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride from now until the season finale in Pomona, Calif., on Nov. 16.

"Obviously, the Texas event has been a crucial race in the points well before the Countdown was instituted," said Capps. "I remember going there a few years back when we were battling for the championship against John Force. We had him first round and we beat him.

"The crew guys back then did a great job in a pressure-cooker situation by going up there and beating one of the best there is. And here we are back in Dallas again and fighting for a championship. We're a few rounds back of the points leader (Cruz Pedregon) and you can't look to try to make it all up at once. It would be great if it happened, but we just need to go up and do the same we did in Concord: set our goals to qualify well enough to get lane choice first round and then try to win the race.

"We always look forward to going to the Texas Motorplex. At this stage of the game, it's so important to go rounds. You have one bad race and you might have to count yourself out of the championship. My success there in the past has been great and I think we're going to have a good weekend."

Capps also has that proverbial "Ace" up his sleeve this weekend. His crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch is a two-time winner in Texas: Funny Car in 1987 and Top Fuel in 1992.