There’s something about racing on a Tuesday that always seems to excite Ron Capps. Maybe that thrill can be traced to the fact that he’s undefeated on that particular day of the week.

Yes, Capps’ first win came on a Tuesday in Seattle, 1995, when he
defeated Cory McClenathan while driving Roger Primm’s Top Fuel dragster.

“There were about 40 people or so in the grandstands to celebrate with me,” Capps recalled.

For Capps, it was all about remaining motivated during a rainout.

This is the first of several new NHRA Full Throttle ads to debut in
2009. This commercial spot titled "Legend" features the Don "Snake"
Prudhomme talking about the old days when drag racing was truly go full
throttle or you will go home.

While his fast-running teammate was busy collecting records like they were going out of style, Jason Line was busy grabbing win lights at the NHRA Winternationals.

The former world champion collected his 16th career Pro Stock national event victory and the first at the NHRA Winternationals.

“I drove pretty good today and that feels good because I’ve been
criticized for that recently,” Line admitted. “I had a good hot rod,
probably the second best in the place today. To actually win here feels
really good.”

KALITTA, CAPPS AND LINE EARN WINS AT KRAGEN O’REILLY WINTERNATIONALS

Doug
Kalitta raced to his first Top Fuel victory in more than a year Tuesday
at the rain-delayed Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club
Raceway at Pomona.

Ron Capps and Jason Line also were winners in their respective
categories at the first of 24 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
events in 2009. The season-opening event, which had been plagued by
five straight days of rain delays, was finally completed under clear
blue skies.

Kalitta powered his Kalitta Motorsports dragster to a winning
performance of 3.822 seconds at 308.57 mph to take an emotional win
over top qualifier Antron Brown, whose Matco Tools dragster trailed
with a 3.847 at 307.16.

Top 10 point standings for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
following the rain-delayed 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA
Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Final-round results for the professional categories from
Tuesday’s rain-delayed running of the 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA
Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. It is the first of 24
events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in 2009.

Final round-by-round results Tuesday for the rain-delayed 49th
annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at
Pomona. It is the first of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series in 2009.

TOP FUEL

First round – Antron Brown, 4.222, 279.79 def. Steve Faria, 5.099,
155.10; Mike Strasburg, 3.997, 253.71 def. Spencer Massey, 4.195,
260.36; Brandon Bernstein, 4.758, 192.69 def. Andy Carter, foul; Tony
Schumacher, 3.845, 312.42 def. Del Cox, 4.008, 302.08; Morgan Lucas,
3.846, 310.20 def. Joe Hartley, 3.955, 307.37; Steve Chrisman, 4.086,
285.59 def. David Baca, 7.632, 93.26; Cory McClenathan, 3.934, 313.37
def. Shawn Langdon, 4.221, 217.81; Doug Kalitta, 4.648, 194.49 def. Urs
Erbacher, no time recorded.

Second round – Brown, 15.892, 26.16 def. Strasburg, no show;
Bernstein, 3.834, 311.49 def. Schumacher, 3.865, 313.44; Lucas, 3.886,
305.08 def. Chrisman, 5.159, 136.02; Kalitta, 3.826, no speed def.
McClenathan, 3.886, 296.83.

Semifinals – Brown, 3.778, 312.78 def. Bernstein, 9.268, 80.92; Kalitta, 3.825, 313.95 def. Lucas, 7.131, 100.15.

Final – Kalitta, 3.822, 308.57 def. Brown, 3.847, 307.16.

SEMA (the Specialty Equipment Market Association), issued a
statement this afternoon announcing the Cash for Clunkers program has
been withdrawn from consideration as part of the government stimulus
program. Such a program would have been detrimental to the automotive
aftermarket and restoration industry.

"We are equally pleased
that the Senate voted to include a SEMA-supported amendment to the bill
allowing taxpayers to claim a tax deduction for car-loan interest
payments and excise taxes when they buy a new car in 2009," the
prepared statement read. "We applaud lawmakers for spending taxpayer
money wisely rather than wasting dollars on programs that do not spur
car sales, reduce emissions or increase fuel efficiency.

The rain-delayed 49th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals will
be completed today (Tuesday, Feb. 10) at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
The day will begin with Top Fuel quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. PT and
will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. PT with the final rounds in Top
Fuel and Funny Car (Pro Stock's final round will be run approximately
30 minutes later).

Let the record reflect that sophomore Funny Car driver Mike Neff is in it to win it.

The idea that he’s unsponsored is a major misnomer.

“The car does have funding with it,” Neff told CompetitionPlus.com.
“Ford is one of our largest contributors and with what they give us is
more than adequate to run the car with. We’re not lacking for what it
takes to win.”

That’s why Neff, a former nitro tuner before joining John Force Racing
in 2007, says he’s planning on challenging for the title in 2009. He’s
not going to be a test car, as some suggest.