NHRA NEWS: SCHUMACHER, CAPPS AND ENDERS-STEVENS SCORE WINS AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS

Tony Schumacher won a wild tire-smoking final round against Morgan Lucas Sunday to claim the Top Fuel victory at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Phoenix.

Schumacher raced to his 70th career victory and fourth at FIR when he was able to get his 8,000-horsepower U.S. Army dragster under control and finish just in front of Lucas’ charging GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster. Both dragsters lost traction early in the side-by-side race and both drivers were on and off the throttle as they navigated the dragstrip.

“When you can win ugly like that it is so much fun,” said Schumacher, who beat Sidnei Frigo, Khalid alBalooshi and Antron Brown in earlier rounds. “Both cars were set up to run really fast and we both lost it and smoked the tires. It was lift, pedal, lift, pedal all the way down. I could hear Morgan beside me the whole time. As a driver that kind of race is so much fun and I enjoy winning like that more than a record run.”

It was the fourth consecutive final round appearance for Schumacher dating back to last season and he moves into the series points lead with the victory.

“Four finals in a row, it’s unbelievable that our team is that good,” Schumacher said. “Win number 70. I like that number. I was stuck on 69 for a long time.”

In Funny Car, Capps earned his 39th career victory and third at this event, outrunning Matt Hagan in the final round. Capps powered his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger to a 4.064 at 314.90 to finish in front of Hagan’s Mopar/Rocky Footwear Charger, which trailed with a 4.158 at 300.33.

Capps reeled off a series of quick runs in the mid 4.0 second range in early round wins over Tony and Cruz Pedregon and Tim Wilkerson. His machine was just as quick in the final round over Hagan.

“This new car really likes to be planted early, and so [crew chief] Rahn Tobler has been working on a new clutch package,” Capps said. “In (the final qualifying session) yesterday, we finally found out what it really liked. And when you give Tobler a new combination, he’s going to ‘bracket car’ it to death.”

With the victory Capps moves into the series points lead. With back-to-back final rounds to open the season, Capps says his NAPA team is picking up right where it left off last season.

“We are starting to feel like we are getting into the same rhythm that we were last year when we went to six finals in a row,” Capps said. “I think that both Rahn and I built up some confidence in each other [with our runner-up] at Pomona, and now here.”

Enders-Stevens outran top qualifier Mike Edwards in the Pro Stock final round to earn her fifth career victory. She used a quicker reaction time in her GK Racing Chevy Cobalt to take the win from Edwards in his Interstate Batteries / I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Enders-Stevens finished in 6.538 at 211.99, just in front of Edwards’ quicker but losing performance of 6.520 at 213.74.

“Coming off the season we had last year, and starting the way that we did this year, it was a kind of a gut check in that we wonder if we can ever get it done again,” Enders-Stevens said. “Our guys really worked their butts off during the winter, but we didn’t get the chance to test a lot. And I was a little bit nervous coming into this year because the other big teams got to test a lot. But our guys proved that they can pick up where they left off, and I’m excited.”

Enders, who moved to second in the points standings with the win, defeated Shane Gray, V. Gaines and Jason Line in the first three rounds and won from the No. 7 qualifying position.

“My crew chief, Dave Connolly, reminded me that every time that Jimmie Johnson wins, we win,” Enders-Stevens said with a smile. “And he told me that Jimmie won today’s Daytona 500 prior to the final. So needless to say, we’re going to be cheering for Jimmie all year.”

Following Courtney Force’s Funny Car win at Pomona, Calif. last weekend, this is the first time in NHRA history that two female drivers have won races in back-to-back events to open a season.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues March 14-17 with the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville (Fla.).

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CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.  The race is the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL: 1.  Tony Schumacher; 2.  Morgan Lucas; 3.  Antron Brown; 4.  Spencer Massey; 5.  Larry Dixon; 6. Khalid alBalooshi; 7.  Leah Pruett; 8.  David Grubnic; 9.  Doug Kalitta; 10.  Clay Millican; 11.

Terry McMillen; 12.  Brandon Bernstein; 13.  Shawn Langdon; 14.  Brittany Force; 15.  Sidnei Frigo; 16.  Bob Vandergriff.

FUNNY CAR: 1.  Ron Capps; 2.  Matt Hagan; 3.  John Force; 4.  Tim Wilkerson; 5.  Bob Tasca III; 6.  Robert Hight; 7.  Cruz Pedregon; 8.  Todd Lesenko; 9.  Tony Pedregon; 10.  Alexis DeJoria; 11.  Phil Burkart; 12.  Del Worsham; 13.  Jack Beckman; 14.  Courtney Force; 15.  Jeff Arend; 16.  Johnny Gray.

PRO STOCK: 1.  Erica Enders-Stevens; 2.  Mike Edwards; 3.  Jason Line; 4.  Greg Anderson; 5.  Allen Johnson; 6.  V. Gaines; 7.  Jeg Coughlin; 8.  Vincent Nobile; 9.  Chris McGaha; 10.  Steve Kent; 11.  Matt Hartford; 12.  Deric Kramer; 13.  Shane Gray; 14.  Larry Morgan; 15.  Greg Stanfield; 16.  Rodger Brogdon.

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Sunday's final results from the 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway. The race is the second of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.606 seconds, 213.20 mph  def. Morgan Lucas, 4.652 seconds, 258.67 mph.

Funny Car -- Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.064, 314.90  def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.158, 300.33.

Pro Stock -- Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Cobalt, 6.538, 211.99  def. Mike Edwards, Chevy Camaro, 6.520, 213.74.

Super Stock -- Harry Doolittle, Pontiac Firebird, 12.069, 109.67  def. Mike Graham, Ford Mustang, 10.265, 129.74.

Stock Eliminator -- Zack Torres, Chevy Camaro, 11.622, 110.88  def. Matthew Hawk, Ford Mustang, 12.367, 100.56.

Super Comp -- Jack DeRencin, Dragster, 8.905, 164.47  def. Jim Berry, Dragster, 8.924, 166.89.

Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Chevy Corvette, 9.899, 141.34  def. Russ Ginger, Dodge Aspen, 9.857, 161.21.

Super Street -- Kevin Kleineweber, Chevy Lumina, 11.001, 143.26  def. Ryan Giacone, Ford Thunderbird, 11.127, 119.57.

Top Dragster -- Chuck Hawk, Dragster, 6.914, 197.16  def. Moe Trujillo, Dragster, foul.

Top Sportsman -- JR Lobner, Chevy S-10, 7.457, 184.22  def. Ted Carli, Chevy Cobalt, 6.682, 207.75.

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Final round-by-round results from the 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Leah Pruett, 4.522, 234.25 def. Shawn Langdon, 5.466, 144.30; Morgan Lucas, 4.074, 211.99 def. Clay Millican, 4.073, 256.89; David Grubnic, 5.580, 198.38 def. Brittany Force, 5.851, 115.95; Antron Brown, 3.798, 321.96 def. Terry McMillen, 4.752, 156.15; Spencer Massey, 3.774, 326.00 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.756, 329.67; Tony Schumacher, 3.806, 313.80 def. Sidnei Frigo, 9.965, 80.81; Khalid alBalooshi, 3.770, 325.85 def. Bob Vandergriff, broke; Larry Dixon, 4.942, 283.13 def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.991, 168.66;

QUARTERFINALS -- Lucas, 3.773, 327.43 def. Grubnic, 9.378, 62.38; Brown, 3.786, 307.93 def. Pruett, 7.773, 81.33; Massey, 3.750, 324.05 def. Dixon, 5.151, 149.03; Schumacher, 3.747, 329.91 def. alBalooshi, 5.172, 154.78;

SEMIFINALS -- Lucas, 3.860, 316.08 def. Massey, 5.137, 141.82; Schumacher, 3.765, 327.82 def. Brown, 3.752, 325.45;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 4.606, 213.20 def. Lucas, 4.652, 258.67.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.061, 313.51 def. Tony Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.097, 299.06; Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 5.703, 150.77 def. Johnny Gray, Charger, DQ; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.078, 310.27 def. Phil Burkart, Chevy Impala, 4.389, 285.47; Todd Lesenko, Charger, 5.206, 191.92 def. Courtney Force, Mustang, 11.228, 46.83; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.094, 289.76 def.

Jeff Arend, Charger, 12.595, 66.51; John Force, Mustang, 4.047, 316.82 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.164, 305.22; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.336, 221.78 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 6.342, 111.57; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.252, 245.94 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 5.295, 165.07;

QUARTERFINALS -- Capps, 4.059, 310.55 def. C. Pedregon, DQ; Hagan, 4.259, 254.76 def. Tasca III, 6.845, 97.60; J. Force, 8.107, 74.04 def. Lesenko, broke; Wilkerson, 4.102, 309.06 def. Hight, 6.937, 97.81;

SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 4.037, 316.67 def. Wilkerson, 10.942, 85.73; Hagan, 4.049, 311.13 def. J. Force, 4.105, 315.56;

FINAL -- Capps, 4.064, 314.90 def. Hagan, 4.158, 300.33.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Vincent Nobile, Dodge Avenger, 8.750, 109.09 def. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, foul; Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Cobalt, 6.561, 212.39 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.652, 188.44; Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.537, 212.49 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 17.529, 46.85; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.543, 212.63 def. Matt Hartford, Avenger, 6.608, 210.73; V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.564, 212.06 def.

Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.713, 182.85; Mike Edwards, Camaro, 6.541, 212.83 def. Steve Kent, Pontiac GXP, 6.592, 210.21; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.554, 212.83 def. Deric Kramer, Avenger, 6.609, 209.79; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.540, 212.79 def. Chris McGaha, Avenger, 6.576, 211.36;

QUARTERFINALS -- Enders-Stevens, 6.553, 212.79 def. Gaines, 6.553, 211.83; Edwards, 6.505, 213.77 def. Nobile, 6.582, 210.73; Anderson, 6.556, 211.96 def. A. Johnson, 6.549, 212.53; Line, 6.538, 212.76 def. Coughlin, 6.581, 212.59;

SEMIFINALS -- Enders-Stevens, 6.563, 212.19 def. Line, 6.619, 212.76; Edwards, 6.522, 213.50 def. Anderson, 7.552, 132.32;

FINAL -- Enders-Stevens, 6.538, 211.99 def. Edwards, 6.520, 213.74.

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel

1.  Tony Schumacher, 228; 2.  Shawn Langdon, 149; 3.  Antron Brown, 148; 4.  Khalid alBalooshi, 131; 5.  Morgan Lucas, 124; 6.  David Grubnic, 112; 7.  Doug Kalitta, 103; 8.  Spencer Massey, 100; 9.  Brandon Bernstein, 93; 10.  Larry Dixon, 86.

Funny Car

1.  Ron Capps, 210; 2.  Courtney Force, 165; 3.  Matt Hagan, 151; 4.  Bob Tasca III, 124; 5. Johnny Gray, 122; 6.  Cruz Pedregon, 117; 7.  (tie) John Force, 106; Tim Wilkerson, 106; 9.  Todd Lesenko, 102; 10.  Robert Hight, 83.

Pro Stock

1.  Vincent Nobile, 171; 2.  Erica Enders-Stevens, 155; 3.  Mike Edwards, 153; 4.  Jeg Coughlin, 149; 5.  V. Gaines, 142; 6.  Jason Line, 119; 7.  (tie) Greg Anderson, 109; Allen Johnson, 109; 9. Greg Stanfield, 104; 10.  (tie) Shane Gray, 83. Chris McGaha, 83.

NHRA NEWS: Capps ready for reunion with his NAPA AUTO PARTS team at Winternationals in NHRA Mello Yello series opener at Pomona

Ron Capps is ready for the 2013 season to begin and expects a question to pop up frequently this year.

Will this be the year Ron wins his first NHRA world championship after 18 years of trying?

The popular driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing has dealt with the query before. And before. And before.

A mere two points - tying the NHRA record for closest points battle in its two premier nitro categories - prevented Ron from winning the prestigious championship last year. He finished two markers behind DSR teammate and fellow Southern Californian Jack Beckman.

It was the fourth time in the 47-year-old's career he ended a season as runner-up.

But Ron believes most drivers have never finished second, and if his career ends without the coveted title it won't be what defines his career.

"I've come to the realization that the championship we all want to win will not be as important when I retire and look back at life and career in the sport," he said. "I'm just as content going out winning races with my NAPA team."

He's eager to get back to racing and knowing that NAPA AUTO PARTS has extended its sponsorship partnership with DSR.

"We're very encouraged going to Pomona. One reason is knowing we're going to have a great sponsor like NAPA back for at least the next few years and that Rahn (Tobler) is back. You dream of going into each season with a sponsor and team like we have."

After a sluggish start through the first four races of 2012, he was paired with Tobler and assistant John Collins. The trio led the NAPA team to a resounding finish over the last 19 events to finish with the most titles in Funny Car (five) and best record in championship eliminations (46-17). And there was the quickest run ever in a Funny Car at 3.964 seconds and 320.89 mph on May 31 at Englishtown, N.J.

For Ron, getting to Pomona is more than getting back to racing and being able to spend the weekend with his family that live near San Diego in Carlsbad, Calif.

"It's fun for all of us on the NAPA team to go to work in the morning," he said. "It's not just a job, it's become a lot of fun like when I came into this sport. Let's have fun, let's enjoy ourselves, let's be successful each day and try to be better than that tomorrow. If we keep that attitude up like Tobler has with our team the sky is the limit.

"I believe a championship will come."

CAPPS DEFEATS J. FORCE, TAKES OVER POINTS LEAD; LUCAS, ENDERS AND KRAWIEC ALSO VICTORIOUS AT BRAINERD

Ron Capps raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals and moved into the Full Throttle Series points lead for the first time this season with one race remaining before the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the penultimate regular season event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Capps powered away from 15-time world champ John Force in the Funny Car final round to take his third win of the season, third at Brainerd International Raceway and 36th of his career. Capps cruised to a final round performance of 4.134 seconds at 304.05 mph in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger, while Force’s Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang lost traction and finished in 6.633 at 116.35.

"I’m pretty excited to go to Indy with the points lead," said Capps, who now leads Robert Hight by 53 points. "Force is cagey. He’s good here. He could be having the worst year ever and still come here and win. I was doubtful that we were going to get a win. He’s been eking it out all day and getting on a roll. He knows how to take it to the next level. I looked over at about 800 feet and didn’t see him ahead of me, and we got the win light."

In Top Fuel, Lucas edged Antron Brown at the finish line for his third victory of the season and his third win at this event, sponsored by his family’s oil company. Lucas posted a 3.818 at 316.90 in his GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster to hold off Brown’s charging Matco Tools dragster, which trailed with a 3.831 at 313.80.

“Anytime you can win here for our family, especially for my dad who is so involved in this race, is a dream come true," Lucas said. "Hopefully, it’s a sign of good things to come for us. You can’t help but get a lot of confidence out of an outing like this. You never know with these cars. There is a lot of hard work put in that is starting to show on the track.”

With the runner-up finish, Brown moved into the series points lead, 58 ahead of Spencer Massey.

Enders continues to make Pro Stock history as she raced to her third victory of the season and second in a row.  She outran series points leader Allen Johnson in the final round with a performance of 6.649 at 208.26 in her GK Motorsports Chevy Cobalt. Johnson’s Team Mopar Dodge Avenger experienced tire shake at the start and slowed near mid-track. Enders is the first female to win at BIR since Shirley Muldowney won a Top Fuel title here in 1982.

“Beating AJ [Allen Johnson isn’t easy,” Enders said. “There are a lot of tough guys out there. To be able to run against the best out here shows that our hard work is finally paying off. We’ve been chasing them for a number of years.”

Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Krawiec remained undefeated in Pro Stock Motorcycle, claiming his sixth victory of the season in as many finals and increasing his series points lead by defeating final round opponent Hector Arana Jr., who fouled at the start on his Lucas Oil Buell.

“He jumped out in front of me and at first I thought I was late but about 300 feet out, I looked up and saw that my win light was on,” Krawiec said. “I realized that he red-lighted.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues Aug. 29-Sept. 3 with the 58th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus in Indianapolis, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the 31st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.  The race is the 16th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series: 

TOP FUEL:

1.  Morgan Lucas; 2.  Antron Brown; 3.  Tony Schumacher; 4.  Doug Kalitta; 5.  Khalid alBalooshi; 6.  David Grubnic; 7.  Bruce Litton; 8.  Cory McClenathan; 9.  Brandon Bernstein; 10.  Bob Vandergriff; 11.  Steve Torrence; 12.  Keith Murt; 13.  Shawn Langdon; 14.  Clay Millican; 15.Spencer Massey; 16.  Terry McMillen.

FUNNY CAR:

1.  Ron Capps; 2.  John Force; 3.  Matt Hagan; 4.  Tim Wilkerson; 5.  Johnny Gray; 6.  Cruz Pedregon; 7.  Jack Beckman; 8.  Mike Neff; 9.  Jeff Arend; 10.  Courtney Force; 11.  Robert Hight; 12.  Jim Head; 13.  Bob Tasca III; 14.  Dale Creasy Jr.; 15.  Tony Pedregon; 16.  Alexis DeJoria.

PRO STOCK: 

1.  Erica Enders; 2.  Allen Johnson; 3.  Ron Krisher; 4.  Larry Morgan; 5.  Jason Line; 6.  Mike Edwards; 7.  Jeg Coughlin; 8.  Mark Martino; 9.  V. Gaines; 10.  Vincent Nobile; 11.  Warren Johnson; 12.  Rodger Brogdon; 13.  Chris McGaha; 14.  Ronnie Humphrey; 15.  Shane Gray; 16.  Greg Anderson.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1.  Eddie Krawiec; 2.  Hector Arana Jr; 3.  Andrew Hines; 4.  John Hall; 5.  Karen Stoffer; 6.Scotty Pollacheck; 7.  Michael Phillips; 8.  LE Tonglet; 9.  Mike Berry; 10.  Matt Smith; 11. Michael Ray; 12.  Steve Johnson; 13.  Jim Underdahl; 14.  Chip Ellis; 15.  Shawn Gann; 16.  Hector Arana.

Capps wants points lead for NAPA at Brainerd to let momentum continue to build for pending NHRA Countdown

When Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing's NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car team headed to Brainerd, Minn., a year ago it was not solidly qualified for the Countdown to the Championship.

Capps made it into the Countdown tied for fifth in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing points and settled for sixth in the final standings. His team never got on track toward the end of last season.

But when the NAPA AUTO PARTS team gets to Brainerd Raceway Friday afternoon it will have already clinched a spot in the Countdown as one of the top-10 teams that will contest for the Funny Car world championship over the last six events of the 23-race national tour.

But Capps and crew chief Rahn Tobler will not arrive at the track located about 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis without another lofty goal to shoot for, a goal that no one thought possible when Tobler and his crew joined Capps after this year's fourth event.

The NAPA AUTO PARTS team had failed to qualify for the event at Las Vegas. At the following race and first with Tobler, Capps advanced to final round of the Four-Wide NHRA Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway after qualifying No. 2.

But points leader Robert Hight of John Force Racing won the Four-Wide title and left with a 246-point lead over Capps, who was seventh in points.

However, when qualifying begins at Brainerd, the NAPA AUTO PARTS team will be second only to Hight and only 31 points from passing Hight for the top spot in the standings.

If it doesn't happen this weekend, Capps will have the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend to overtake Hight. But Capps doesn't want to wait.

Moving to first, if only for a race, would mark a remarkable comeback. It also will provide a 30-point bonus for the points leader after Indy when points are reset to start the Countdown.

"That would be huge," Capps said of passing Hight. "Those 30 points are 10 more than we get for winning a round in eliminations."

Perhaps even more important to Capps, is what his team has accomplished whether it goes into the Countdown ranked No. 1 or No. 2.

"The most important part for the team is the momentum you have to have when the first of the six Countdown races starts, and I believe we have that now.

Capps was runner-up at Brainerd a year ago to DSR teammate Johnny Gray and in 2009. The last of his two titles at the track was in 2001.

"We've had good success there," Capps said. "A driver does well at certain tracks because of several factors including the mojo he gets from the fans. I've always done well there and enjoy it because I have family near there."

Capps' wife, Shelley, also is making the northeastern trek from their home in Southern California.

"Shelley's aunt lives about an hour east of the track near the Wisconsin border so a couple hours after we finish at the track on Sunday night we'll sitting on her aunt's dock at the lake."

It could be the last days of the season when momentum won't matter to Capps.

SEVEN DRIVERS EARN FULL THROTTLE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BERTHS AT NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

Seven drivers clinched Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoff berths at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, bringing the number of drivers who have secured their invitations to the playoffs to 14.

Top Fuel racers Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher, along with Funny Car driver Ron Capps, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. all locked up their positions during NHRA Sonoma Nationals qualifying.

On Sunday, Pro Stock racers Mike Edwards and Vincent Nobile clinched by advancing to round two, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. clinched by advancing to the semifinals.

The NHRA Full Throttle Series regular season concludes Labor Day weekend at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus in Indianapolis. A six-race playoff series, the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, will lead to the crowning of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champs. The Countdown begins Sept. 14-16 at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C.

COUNTDOWN FIELDS TO DATE

Top Fuel

1. Spencer Massey

2. Antron Brown

3. Tony Schumacher

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight

2. Ron Capps

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson

2. Jason Line

3. Allen Johnson

4. Mike Edwards

5. Vincent Nobile

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Eddie Krawiec

2. Andrew Hines

3. Hector Arana Jr.

4. Hector Arana Sr.

Capps has added incentive when racing starts at Route 66; NAPA Batteries provides Intrepid Fallen Hero crew member

Ron Capps wants nothing more than to win an NHRA world championship. He's devoted most of his adult life to winning one of the ultimate prizes in motorsports.

The 47-year-old Southern Californian has come close three times, falling short in 2005 by the smallest margin (eight points) in NHRA history.

The driver of the NAPA Batteries/Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher Racing will start this weekend's NHRA Route 66 Nationals near Chicago as part of the hottest team in drag racing.

He surely wants to win for the third time this season, and he will have extra motivation to drive into the winner's circle Sunday afternoon at Route 66 with crew chief Rahn Tobler and the rest of the team.

Nothing would make Capps happier than to share the spotlight with that day's NAPA AUTO PARTS Honorary Crew Member, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Robert "Rob" Dickey, a native of Capps' San Diego area who resides in San Antonio, Texas.

Dickey, 35, is a drag racer who can share his memories with Capps of legendary Carlsbad Raceway in Southern California.

Dickey, a husband and father of five, will be at the Route 66 Nationals courtesy of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which has provided more than $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans.

"We're so focused on getting to the track and doing everything we can to win and taking care of our sponsors that we tend to forget a lot of time about what goes on in the outside world," Capps said.

Intrepid has helped Dickey adjust to life after a land mine in Afghanistan on Sept. 6, 2010, forced surgeons to perform a below-the-knee amputation of his right leg and partially remove part of his left calf.

Capps, 47, is eager to meet Dickey when he arrives at Joliet in time for Friday evening's qualifying that begins at 5 p.m.

Capps adds that everyone can appreciate life more after meeting a soldier like Dickey, whose sacrifices puts race-car breakdowns and tire-smoking runs into proper perspective.

"The best thing about having a great sponsor like NAPA and an owner like Don (Schumacher) is being able to do a special car like the one we'll run this weekend and to really give something back to someone who has given so much more than we could ever imagine," he said.

Capps' traditional blue and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car this weekend will feature a special paint scheme to bring attention to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and NAPA's "Get Back, Give Back" campaign that runs through July to encourage consumers to apply all or part of their rebates from NAPA Battery, Starter or Alternator purchases to Intrepid. Consumers can receive up to a $25 rebate on their purchases. Additionally, NAPA will donate $1 per consumer rebate redeemed.

Martin Truex Jr. and his Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup entry will field a similar look on the No. 56 NAPA Toyota in the July 7 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
"Our car this weekend will touch a lot of people when they see it and they want to cheer for it because of what it represents," Capps said.

"It's always special to run a car like that but to put that car in the winner's circle and have Rob there with us would mean more than anything."

An added bit of fun would be winning in the hometown of Schumacher, who owns the seven-car operation.

"That would be a bonus," Capps said. "Everyone knows that it is Don's hometown and the amount of people he entertains there is cool. So when you can win with all those people there it's just extra special."

A victory also would get Capps closer to points leader Robert Hight of John Force Racing. Capps was eighth in the standings and 209 points behind Hight after four events before Tobler took over as Capps' crew chief. Since then, the Capps-Tobler combination has advanced to six consecutive championship rounds with a 19-4 record in eliminations and cut Hight's lead to 73 points.

The NAPA Funny Car also became the quickest ever on May 31 when he completed a run in 3.964 seconds at 320.89 mph, which is the second fastest ever.

FUNNY CAR DRIVER RON CAPPS RIDING WIND OF SUCCESS AS NHRA HEADS TO CHICAGO

Funny Car veteran Ron Capps is having the kind of season a person usually only dreams about. The NHRA star heads to the 15th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Route 66 Raceway riding the high of six straight final-round appearances and earning his second victory of the season, which tied him on the all-time wins list with NHRA legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

“Tying with Don Garlits for the amount of wins was a shocker,” Capps said. “You never even imagine as a kid growing up to be mentioned in the same sentence or the same breath as Don Garlits and the word wins. That was the biggest compliment.”

As the NHRA heads to the Windy City for the 11th stop of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season, Capps will try to continue his final-round streak as well as start a winning streak, but defending Funny Car winner Mike Neff will be doing his best to stop his streak and take back the No. 2 spot in the point standings from Capps. Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also 2011 winners of the event that will be telecast on ESPN2HD.

After a tough start to the season, championship tuner Rahn Tobler was added to the NAPA Auto Parts team and it has brought nothing but positive changes. Capps has moved up to second in the points standings, earned the title of quickest Funny Car driver in NHRA history thanks to his 3.964-second pass in Englishtown, N.J., and the team has one of the most consistent cars in the ultracompetitive Funny Car class.

“With the competition we have now and as good as you have to be in Funny Car, I feel like for sure I have one of the most consistent cars out there,” Capps said. “Really, right now, you could put that up as one of the most consistent cars in Funny Car history. I think there have only been two or three runs since Charlotte four-wide that the car hasn’t made it down the track under full power. That stat is even more impressive to me than even the six final rounds.”

Capps has a strong team at Don Schumacher Racing and knows that his Funny Car teammates are not only his biggest cheerleaders, but also his biggest competitors. In his six straight final rounds, he has lost two to his teammates; he knows that’s good for the sport and even better for his morale.

“For me, when I have to race one of my teammates, I have to elevate myself,” Capps said. “Even more than I do if I have to race John Force’s team or anyone else out there, I really feel like it just heightens everything for me as a driver.”

Capps has accomplished a lot in his career, but the one thing he thinks is missing is that elusive NHRA Funny Car world championship. He has finished in the No. 2 position in the championship points standings three times and knows that even though he has had a great career, the one thing he wants more than anything is the championship.

“I look at the trophies on my mantel and every one of them has a great memory of the guys that put the car together that made it happen,” Capps said. “All of that stuff is great. The accolades that come later on, that stuff is cool, but it’s still that championship ring that we are striving to get.”

Not only will fans be privy to incredible competition in Funny Car and the other three NHRA Full Throttle categories, but they will also have the pleasure of two nitro qualifying sessions under the lights, with both Friday and Saturday night action, a rare treat on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Jet cars will close the show on Friday, and the iconic nostalgia Funny Cars the Chi-Town Hustler and Stardust will end Saturday night’s program.

The JEGS Allstars competition, celebrating its 28th year, will also be featured as part of the weekend’s on-track action. Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin has been an Allstars representative six times, winning the Super Gas title twice. Several of today’s NHRA Full Throttle Series stars are past Allstars participants, including Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas (Top Alcohol Dragster, 2003-04; won in ’03), Shawn Langdon (Super Comp, 2005-07; won in ’05 and ’06) and Spencer Massey (Top Alcohol Dragster, 2007-08; won in ’07) as well as Funny Car drivers Tim Wilkerson (Top Alcohol Funny Car, 1995) and Jack Beckman (Super Comp, 2004-05; runner-up in ’04).

Sunday morning, before prerace ceremonies, there will be a special Nitro Generation track walk and all fans are invited to join Tony, Don and Megan Schumacher as well as TJ Zizzo at 10 a.m. as they walk the actual track surface before championship Sunday’s eliminations begin. After the track walk, fans are welcome to head to the starting line to be a part of prerace ceremonies as the top 16 drivers in each of the four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series classes are introduced.

As always, every ticket holder is granted exclusive pit access each day, so fans can get up close and personal with their favorite teams and drivers for pictures and autographs.

Race fans can frequent NHRA.com or simply Like the NHRA Facebook page and follow NHRA on Twitter to receive updated news and information on specific activities planned at each event on the 2012 schedule.

Capps, Tobler look for sixth consecutive final round and second NHRA title this year for NAPA AUTO PARTS

Ron Capps and his NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car team were disappointed leaving Englishtown, N.J., 10 days ago.

Although the team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler advanced to the championship round of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national event on June 3, just getting the chance to race for a title is no longer enough for the team.

Having their eyes on the ultimate prize at each event is understandable considering the team became only the fifth in NHRA Funny Car history to advance to five consecutive championship rounds.

At the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown, Capps lost to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Johnny Gray for the title, but the team did something two nights earlier that no one expected.

In the second qualifying session on that Friday night, Tobler and assistant crew chief John Collins tuned Capps to an historic run when they recorded the quickest ever pass by a Funny Car at 3.964 seconds to earn the No. 1 qualifying spot and join teammate Matt Hagan as the only Funny Cars to crack the 4-second barrier. Capps' speed of 320.89 is the second fastest ever.

"It's neat every weekend when we can be racing late in the day," Capps said. "We were disappointed that we couldn't finish off Englishtown by winning because that would have wrapped up a perfect weekend."

Within their successful run over the past two months, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T won the title on May 6 near Atlanta and has made a hard charge toward catching Robert Hight, who had been the runaway points leader after the John Force Racing driver won four of the first five Full Throttle events this year.

Since Hight's last title, Capps has eliminated him in three of the last four races including in the final round at Atlanta.

"We're creeping up on Robert," Capps said. "Catching him before the Countdown to the Championship is not out of the question."

The Countdown comprises the last six events of the year. After the 17th of 23 events, points standings are reset with the points leader given a 30-point lead over the second-place team.

Heading to this weekend's NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in picturesque Tennessee, Capps trails Hight by 157 points but the NAPA AUTO PARTS team has shown to be the best one in the Funny Car division over the past two months. 

After the fifth event of this season, Capps was seventh in points and trailed Hight by 330 points.

Capps, 45, will go for his third title at Bristol after winning there in 2001 and 2006. A year ago, he qualified 11th and lost in the first round.

Last year when Tobler was crew chief for DSR's Jack Beckman they qualified fourth and were the runner-up.

"Bristol has always been a great place for me," Capps said. "And Rahn had great success there a year ago so I hope that can transfer over to us this weekend."

SIXTH FINAL, SECOND TITLE
It won't count in NHRA statistics, but the NAPA AUTO PARTS team enjoyed a sixth championship round and won another title on Saturday night at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

That's when Courtney Collins, daughter of assistant crew chief John Collins, pitched her Plainfield High School fast-pitch softball team to the Indiana state championship for the 4A big-school division by beating Huntington North 3-1.

Courtney, a senior right-hander, had plenty of support from the NAPA AUTO PARTS team including Tobler and numerous other members of the DSR family. Capps watched the game live on the Internet from his home in Southern California.

Courtney allowed five hits and struck out nine - including the last three batters - to earn the complete game victory for the 23-9 Quakers.

PRELUDE FUN BUT NOT A DREAM
Capps was reminded about one reason he prefers drag racing over circle-track racing. In drag racing, cars rarely run into you.

Capps was involved in a crash early in his eighth edition of NASCAR star Tony Stewart's Prelude to the Dream all-star race on Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Unfortunately, Ron's NAPA AUTO PARTS car provided by Kennedy Motorsports was collected in a mishap during the first few laps of the 40-lap feature that relegated him to 21st place

"It was a pretty exciting track, it was very slick," Capps said. "We started the main and the car felt good. Guys were going high and low and it was going to be fun to try and work our way up to the front. 

"Somebody got piled up in front of us right in the middle of the front straightaway and it just blocked the whole track. I slowed down and all of the sudden somebody just ran into the back of us and pushed us into Steve Kinser's car. At that point it just did a lot of damage to the front end and we just couldn't finish. 

"What a fun night though, I had a great time. Kennedy Motorsports put together a great car and we had a great NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme on it. It was a lot of fun."

Ron Capps stats
(Updated through Englishtown; 9th of 23 events)
2012     Pts    W     Rup     Poles    DNQ    Win/Loss
             2nd   1        3           1          1            19-7
2011     Pts    W     Rup     Poles    DNQ    Win/Loss
              6th   2        3           1           1          30-19
Career Titles   Rup   Poles   DNQ    Win/Loss
              34       39       12       17      444-322

NHRA FULL THROTTLE FUNNY CAR STANDINGS
(DSR drivers in CAPS)
Driver (Wins) Points
1. Robert Hight (4) 857
2. RON CAPPS (1) 700
3. Mike Neff (1) 615
4. JOHNNY GRAY 558
5. JACK BECKMAN (1) 543
6. Cruz Pedregon 477
7. Bob Tasca III 451
8. John Force (1) 438
9. Courtney Force 429
10. Jeff Arend 388
12. MATT HAGAN 342

NEXT EVENT
June 15-17, NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals; Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway

FULL THROTTLE NITRO SCHEDULE
Friday: Qualifying, 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m.
Saturday: Qualifying, 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m.
Sunday: Eliminations, noon

ON ESPN2
Qualifying: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday, (delayed)
Eliminations: 7 p.m. (ET) Sunday (delayed)