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2013 NHRA: Ron Capps NHRA Winternationals Qualifying Report: No. 6
There is nothing Ron Capps likes more than racing on the West Coast, especially when races are at Auto Club Raceway in Southern California not far from his home in Carlsbad or at Sonoma, Calif., which is close to where he grew up in San Luis Obispo.
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Ron is able to drive his motorhome to those tracks and spend weekends with his family, extended family and friends. The veteran driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher Racing relishes the time, but has to balance that with focusing on his job.
"There's nothing better than being at a track with my family because it reminds me of how I grew up going to drag races with my parents," said Ron, who is qualified sixth for Sunday's championship eliminations in the NHRA Winternationals.
"It can get hectic, but I've been doing this long enough and they understand when I have to be with our NAPA team."
Ron has been successful at the Pomona track where he has won three Winternationals titles in four championship round appearances.
His sights are set on winning his first NHRA world championship after finishing second behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman by a Funny Car-record two points last year.
But Ron won't have an easy path to winning his fourth Winternationals title; he faces 15-time world champion John Force in the opening round on Sunday. If he and Beckman win their first two races in eliminations, they would meet in the semifinals.
"As tight as the competition is out here you cannot think past your next race. You just can't do it. We had a good run on Friday and the 4.073 (at 311.92 mph) on our first run Saturday put us in the top half of the bracket and that's huge."
Crew chief Rahn Tobler, like other team leaders, had to conquer temperatures around 80 on Friday and Saturday, but a cooler forecast for Sunday with highs in the 60s will present a different set of challenges.
"Weather changes like what we're going to see is perfect for Rahn," Ron said. "Situations like these are where his experience pays off."
The following are Ron's qualifying results and other notes:
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (John Force Racing), 4.036, 318.24 (Saturday)
Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
First-round opponent: John Force
THURSDAY
Session 1: 5.115 sec, 146.91 mph
FRIDAY
Session 2: 4.102, 314.53
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.073, 311.92
Session 4: 4.433, 204.70
RON AT WINTERNATIONALS
A year ago at Winternationals: Qualified No. 8; lost to Mike Neff in semifinals.
Career at Winternationals: Wins 3 (2009, 2006, 1998); runner-ups 1 (2010), poles 1 (1999).
NITRO SCHEDULE: (All times PT)
Sunday: Championship eliminations: 11 a.m.
ESPN2 SCHEDULE: (All times PT)
Sunday: Eliminations (delayed), 5-8 p.m.
WEATHER:
Sunday: High 69, 0 percent chance of rain
PaddockTalk Perspective
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