Pomona Chevrolet Notes

CHEVROLET NOTES AND QUOTES THE WINSTON FINALS Pomona Raceway NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Sunday, November 9, 1997

FUNNY CAR -- CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28

PRESS NOTE #4

RON CAPPS, COPENHAGEN CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28, successfully completed his first season of Funny Car competition by placing fifth in Winston Championship points today, after Randy Anderson, also vying for fifth, was eliminated by John Force in the semi-finals. Capps was eliminated in the second round by Tony Pedregon.

Season-ending stats:

* Fifth in Winston Championship points * Highest-placed Funny Car rookie * Second-highest placed rookie among the pros (Gary Scelzi is first) * Two wins (Madison, Ill., and Sonoma, Calif.) * Two No. 1 qualifying positions (Seattle, Wash.; Dallas, Texas) * Had one round win in first seven races, then had 23 round wins in the last 15 races. * One of only three drivers to break the 315 mph barrier. Capps was the first to do it in Houston (315.45), and was the second fastest to Chuck Etchells (315.56) and Tony Pedregon (315.26). * 11th member of the Castrol 4-second club (U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, Ind.) * First NHRA driver to exceed 300 mph in both Top Fuel and Funny Car (Rockingham, N.C. -- non-points race -- 301.30 in Funny Car in '97, had several 300-plus mph runs in Top Fuel in '95).

CAPPS: "One of the many goals that Roland (Leong, crew chief) had was to make it into the 4-second club, finish in the top 10, and we told the sponsors that we would love to be in the top five. In the beginning of the year we thought it was unrealistic.

It shows you what kind of heart and what kind of toughness this Copenhagen Camaro crew has. I'm excited about the youth of the crew and the expertise and the experience that Roland has. I really feel great starting next year. To finish in the top five is unbelievable. We're ahead of some very good teams."

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