For Ron Capps, the NHRA Route 66 Nationals was not one of his better outings despite a strong qualifying position.

Capps, who made the field in his last qualifying attempt, was a first round casualty opposite of Jeff Arend.

The driver of the NAPA Batteries Dodge contends the NHRA’s track prep is largely to blame for much of the unpredictability of the racing surface.

"We saw an oildown a couple of pairs in front of us and the sun started beating a little harder on the track," said Capps, "and our teammate Matt Hagan went right down that same left lane and ran a great 4.18.

For Ron Capps, the NHRA Route 66 Nationals was not one of his better outings despite a strong qualifying position.

Capps, who made the field in his last qualifying attempt, was a first round casualty opposite of Jeff Arend.

The driver of the NAPA Batteries Dodge contends the NHRA’s track prep is largely to blame for much of the unpredictability of the racing surface.

"We saw an oildown a couple of pairs in front of us and the sun started beating a little harder on the track," said Capps, "and our teammate Matt Hagan went right down that same left lane and ran a great 4.18.

"We knew the conditions were going to be tough and Jeff Arend could step up and run a low 4.20 or a high teen, so we were prepared. It got out there and when it tried to lock the clutch up it just was too much and it pulled the tires loose.

"NHRA has changed the preparation of the race track with the amount of glue and VHT they use to prep the tracks. And they're experimenting. But the crew chiefs have been frustrated going up there not knowing which direction the prep was taking, so it was throwing a curve ball to a lot of the crew chiefs.

"We were having a great weekend, we wanted to do better with the NAPA Batteries car, and we'll just go to Englishtown and see if we can stay in the top five in points and continue on."

The NHRA’s Graham Light told Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com the sanctioning body hasn’t adjusted their compound from race to race.