COMMERCE PROVES KRYPTONITE FOR DRAG RACING “SUPER” MEN
Thu, 2010-05-13 15:00
Together they account for 92 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series event wins. Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and Ron Capps are usually a sure bet in any drag racing pool on the 23-race series.
This is the case except for one place, Atlanta Dragway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
Schumacher has reached the finals twice (2000, 2008) while Capps has been there three times (1995, 2000 and 2001).
While the stats favor both drivers with Schumacher as winningest active Top Fuel driver and Capps as the third, who would’ve ever thought they couldn’t even sneak into a winner’s circle in Commerce, at least once on a fluke victory.
bet in any drag racing pool on the 23-race series.
This is the case except for one place, Atlanta Dragway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
Schumacher has reached the finals twice (2000, 2008) while Capps has been there three times (1995, 2000 and 2001).
While the stats favor both drivers with Schumacher as winningest active Top Fuel driver and Capps as the third, who would’ve ever thought they couldn’t even sneak into a winner’s circle in Commerce, at least once on a fluke victory.
“You would think after totaling 63 career wins, there’s no track out there I still have to conquer,” Schumacher admitted. “We’ve come close in Atlanta, but just haven’t been able to close the deal for some reason.”
Capps has gone almost a decade without coming close to experiencing race day success with a final round.
"We've had good success there in the past,” said Capps. “We've gone rounds and run well, but never closed the deal. It's one of the few tracks I haven't won at in my career. But, I think if we dwell too much on that, it's going to be more of a hindrance than a help right now.”
One reason Capps believes his funk at Atlanta Dragway is living on borrowed time is longtime crew chief Ed “Ace” McCulloch. McCulloch is a three-time NHRA Southern Nationals champion while driving a nitro Funny Car for since retired team owner Larry Minor.
"This race in Commerce is very important on the circuit, and it has become even more so in the last few years, because our sponsor NAPA AUTO PARTS is based out of Atlanta, just south of the Atlanta Dragway,” said Capps. "You ask any of the drivers and they will tell you that one of the most important places they want to win at is where their sponsor's headquarters are located. You definitely want to show off to the bosses. We have some corporate people coming out this weekend who haven't been to a drag race yet, and it's going to be exciting for us to showcase our sport to some of these executives at NAPA AUTO PARTS.
"And nothing would be better than on Monday morning, before getting on the airplane, to be able to go to the headquarters and hand the trophy over to them.”
A victory this weekend would go a long way for Capps, who is winless this year.
For Schumacher, a victory would continue the momentum he gained two weekends ago in St. Louis. With his win at Gateway International Raceway, Schumacher moved up a spot in the standings from fifth to fourth. He now trails third-place Doug Kalitta by a scant six points, second-place Cory McClenathan by 51 points and leader Larry Dixon by 92 points.
On the other end of the spectrum, the most successful driver at Atlanta Dragway is 14-time Funny Car champion John Force, with seven victories in 11 final rounds. Recent winner and Georgian Warren Johnson is second with five wins in nine finals.
This is the case except for one place, Atlanta Dragway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
Schumacher has reached the finals twice (2000, 2008) while Capps has been there three times (1995, 2000 and 2001).
While the stats favor both drivers with Schumacher as winningest active Top Fuel driver and Capps as the third, who would’ve ever thought they couldn’t even sneak into a winner’s circle in Commerce, at least once on a fluke victory.
Together they account for 92 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series event wins. Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and Ron Capps are usually a sure
Atlanta Dragway has posed a tremendous challenge to Schumacher over the years. It’s one of two tracks where he has yet to win – the other is Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.), which follows Atlanta Dragway on the 2010 schedule.
This is the case except for one place, Atlanta Dragway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
Schumacher has reached the finals twice (2000, 2008) while Capps has been there three times (1995, 2000 and 2001).
While the stats favor both drivers with Schumacher as winningest active Top Fuel driver and Capps as the third, who would’ve ever thought they couldn’t even sneak into a winner’s circle in Commerce, at least once on a fluke victory.
“You would think after totaling 63 career wins, there’s no track out there I still have to conquer,” Schumacher admitted. “We’ve come close in Atlanta, but just haven’t been able to close the deal for some reason.”
Capps has gone almost a decade without coming close to experiencing race day success with a final round.
"We've had good success there in the past,” said Capps. “We've gone rounds and run well, but never closed the deal. It's one of the few tracks I haven't won at in my career. But, I think if we dwell too much on that, it's going to be more of a hindrance than a help right now.”
One reason Capps believes his funk at Atlanta Dragway is living on borrowed time is longtime crew chief Ed “Ace” McCulloch. McCulloch is a three-time NHRA Southern Nationals champion while driving a nitro Funny Car for since retired team owner Larry Minor.
"This race in Commerce is very important on the circuit, and it has become even more so in the last few years, because our sponsor NAPA AUTO PARTS is based out of Atlanta, just south of the Atlanta Dragway,” said Capps. "You ask any of the drivers and they will tell you that one of the most important places they want to win at is where their sponsor's headquarters are located. You definitely want to show off to the bosses. We have some corporate people coming out this weekend who haven't been to a drag race yet, and it's going to be exciting for us to showcase our sport to some of these executives at NAPA AUTO PARTS.
"And nothing would be better than on Monday morning, before getting on the airplane, to be able to go to the headquarters and hand the trophy over to them.”
A victory this weekend would go a long way for Capps, who is winless this year.
A win in Atlanta would go a long way for Capps whose sponsor NAPA Auto Parts is based in Atlanta.
For Schumacher, a victory would continue the momentum he gained two weekends ago in St. Louis. With his win at Gateway International Raceway, Schumacher moved up a spot in the standings from fifth to fourth. He now trails third-place Doug Kalitta by a scant six points, second-place Cory McClenathan by 51 points and leader Larry Dixon by 92 points.
On the other end of the spectrum, the most successful driver at Atlanta Dragway is 14-time Funny Car champion John Force, with seven victories in 11 final rounds. Recent winner and Georgian Warren Johnson is second with five wins in nine finals.
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