DENVER FINAL QUALIFYING
Capps took the top position with a powerful run of 4.121 seconds at 297.22 mph in his NAPA Dodge Charger, which just edged out Tony Pedregon’s best of 4.135 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala. Capps will face veteran driver Gary Densham in the first round.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING - CAPPS, BROWN, EDWARDS AND ARANA EARN NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
Ron
Capps raced to his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season
Saturday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
Capps took the top position with a powerful run of 4.121 seconds at
297.22 mph in his NAPA Dodge Charger, which just edged out Tony
Pedregon’s best of 4.135 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala. Capps will
face veteran driver Gary Densham in the first round.
“There’s been a change in ‘Ace’ this year,” Capps said. “He has the eye
of the tiger and wants to rip everyone’s throats out during qualifying.
We looked back at all the points we lost in qualifying last year, and
we lost several rounds worth of them. What’s cool is that ‘Ace’ can go
for it during qualifying, but he can still go back to the approach of
getting the car down the track that helps during hot conditions.”
Antron
Brown, Mike Edwards and Hector Arana also will lead their respective
pro categories into Sunday’s noon eliminations as the No. 1 qualifiers
at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.
Top Fuel points leader Brown claimed his fifth No. 1 position of the
season, crossing the finish line in 3.862 at 318.39 in his Matco Tools
dragster. Brown will meet Rob Passey in the opening round of
eliminations.
“We broke a belt before the finish line,” Brown said. “Our half-track
numbers were great, so it might have gone 319 or 320 mph if it stayed
together. Our team is just having so much fun out here. Hats off to
everyone on the Bandimere crew, because this is easily one of the best
tracks I’ve ever driven on. We threw everything at it, and it still
wouldn’t spin the tires. It’s like Disneyland right now. It’s too bad
that it will be warmer tomorrow.”
Edwards earned his seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season in
Pro Stock, powering his ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP to a track record
performance of 6.957 at 197.71. He will face Mark Buehring in the
opening round as Edwards will try for his sixth consecutive final round
appearance.
“It’s very rewarding to come out here and qualify No. 1,” Edwards said.
“Our program has really turned around this year. We lost a handle on it
a little bit yesterday, but our team worked hard and got it back. I
feel tickled and blessed. I feel bad for (Allen Johnson), because he
had transmission trouble on his last run, and it’s his sponsor’s
race. I told everybody before the last run that I think we can get
second but not first. [Johnson’s crew chief] Mark Ingersoll is
spectacular on that mountain.”
By qualifying in that position, Edwards becomes the second Pro Stock
driver to secure his position in the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s playoffs.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana pushed his Lucas Oil Buell to the
top of the 16-bike order with a 7.319 at 180.81 for his second No. 1
effort of the season. Arana, who won earlier in the season at
Gainesville, will face No. 16 qualifier Bailey Whitaker in the opening
round.
“What an awesome feeling,” Arana said. “We had some left in it
yesterday, and we decided to get a little aggressive. I knew the
opportunity was there in the final session, because I watched the air
get 800 feet better. We have a fast and consistent bike, and my goal is
to win tomorrow.”
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