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2013 NHRA: Ron Capps NHRA Arizona Nationals Qualifying Report: No. 5
Ron Capps calls the dragstrip at Firebird International Raceway a tricky experience.
The veteran driver of Don Schumacher Racing's NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car and crew chief Rahn Tobler wrestled with adjusting to the treacherous surface before posting their best qualifying run of the NHRA Arizona Nationals on their fourth and final effort to qualify No. 5 with a time of 4.081 seconds at 308.35 mph.
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"This track has always been demanding to drive on," said Capps, who won Funny Car titles here in 2009 and 2003. "Multiply that by 10 for a Funny Car crew chief. I couldn't imagine being a crew chief and tuning for it and being able to sleep at night.
"Funny Cars are so much harder to tune with a shorter wheelbase than a dragster but with the same power. When you get off the concrete (after 700 feet) to the asphalt you have to have everything perfect, be right in the groove and the tune-up has to be just right so you can go down through there.
"All you have to do is look at last year when a few cars got into the (guard) wall, and this weekend. John Force has driven this track more than anyone and he got loose and took out the (foam) timing cones near the finish line on Friday.
"It's a demanding track and you have to be on your best game."
Capps, who finished second in points last season, opened this year with a runner-up finish at Pomona.
In addition to a successful day on the Firebird track, Capps spent an hour visiting with more than 3,000 guests of NAPA AUTO PARTS, which also is a major sponsor of the track.
The following are Capps' qualifying results and other notes from the NHRA Arizona Nationals:
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Johnny Gray (DSR) 4.034 sec., 313.80 mph
Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 5
Sunday's first-round opponent: Tony Pedregon
FRIDAY
Session 1: 4.167 sec., 293.15 mph
Session 2: 8.077, 84.24
SATURDAY
Session 3: 8.077, 84.24
Session 4: 4.081, 308.35
THIS WEEK AT FIREBIRD
WHAT: 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
WHERE: Firebird International Raceway, south of Phoenix
NITRO SCHEDULE:
Sunday: Championship eliminations, 11 a.m.
ON ESPN2:
Sunday: Qualifying, 1 a.m., 8 a.m. (ET)
Sunday: Championship eliminations, 8 p.m. (ET)
PaddockTalk Perspective
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