| | CLERMONT, Ind. -- Ron Capps earned his second straight victory in the $100,000
Big Bud Shootout Sunday at the 45th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, adding a spark to
what has otherwise been a dreadful season for the Don Prudhomme-owned Funny
Car team.
San Diego's Capps rebounded from a first-round fire that destroyed
the primary body for his Copenhagen Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Tony Pedregon
for the win in the NHRA specialty event that showcases the eight-quickest
Funny Car drivers over a 21-race span.
"It went kaboom and erupted and I just have to thank God that I was able to get out of it OK," Capps said. "I can't believe the crew got it back together like they did.
"It certainly looked like all the chips were against us, but when I looked out the window of the car before the run and saw Snake (Don Prudhomme) pump his fist, I knew we still had a chance. Tony pulled away from us but we stayed after it. We started gaining on him and he started to falter. This is the 'Big Go.' You don't quit."
Capps covered the Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile in 5.266 seconds at 256.45 mph to defeat Pedregon's Castrol Syntec Mustang, which slowed near the finish, running 5.576 at 192.47. Capps joins Al Hofmann (1994-95) as the event's only back-to-back winners.
"When you look at the season we've had it would be easy to just throw in the towel," said Capps, currently 13th in the NHRA Winston point standings. "Despite all the bad luck, we just keep fighting. Winning the Big Bud Shootout like we did today is just a testament to the kind of team we have."
Joe Amato, Tommy Johnson, Jr., Warren Johnson and Matt Hines will lead their respective pro categories into Monday's final eliminations.
Amato earned his fourth No. 1 qualifying spot of the year
in Top Fuel with his track-record run of 4.529 at 324.20 in his Superman
Racing dragster. Top Fuel favorite Kenny Bernstein failed to qualify, his
first DNQ of the season and first absence from U.S. Nationals eliminations
since 1980.
Johnson, Jr. scored his second No. 1 position of the season in Funny Car, driving his Joe Gibbs-owned Interstate Batteries Pontiac Firebird to a 4.885 at 315.71.
Johnson took his 12th No. 1 spot of the year in Pro Stock with his category-best 6.920 at 199.82 in his Superman Racing Pontiac Firebird.
Hines paced the Pro Stock Motorcycle field on his Superman Racing Suzuki, taking his sixth top qualifying effort of '99 with a 7.260 at 183.94.
In other racing completed Sunday, Craig Eaton, Mike Coughlin, Scott Perin and Greg Stanfield advanced to the Pro Stock Truck semifinals. In opening Pro Stock Truck eliminations, Eaton upset No. 1 qualifier Mark Osborne in a Dodge against Chevrolet second-round battle. Pro Stock Truck eliminations will be completed Monday. | |
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