DSR Regroups as they Head into the Last Race of the Western Swing

Published July 30, 2014

Capps holds No. 3 spot but top drivers on his NAPA bumper

SEATTLE, WA – The next three NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events could be pivotal for Ron Capps and his quest for his first world championship.

And the affable driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Rahn Tobler is confident the team is on the right course as they head to this week’s Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.

Although disappointed with Sunday’s first-round loss at Sonoma, Calif., the winner of 41 NHRA event titles was pleased that he was able leave the track near San Francisco ranked third in the Mello Yello standings.

“It is so tough out here, especially this time of year with the ‘Western Swing’ that puts Tobler and the other crew chiefs in tough positions with the heat and changing track conditions,” Ron said.

“We expected to go longer on Sunday, and I’m not sure what happened to our NAPA Dodge. But I wouldn’t trade Tobler for any crew chief out there. He’s always thinking ahead and that has paid off for us this year.

“The competition is so tough out here, and everyone is going to lose now and then. It’s important when you win and the deeper into the season you get it just makes that harder to do and more important.”

Ron and his NAPA team face the three most critical races to their season.

When the top-10 in points are finalized upon conclusion of the Mello Yello regular season, which includes this weekend’s race near Seattle and events at Brainerd, Minn., and near Indianapolis, the points totals will be reset for those 10 Funny Car drivers eligible to win the season title in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff that ends the season.

Ron will arrive at Seattle 259 points behind leader Robert Hight and 140 points behind No. 2 John Force. Overcoming either would be a monumental challenge so Ron is more concerned with drivers on his bumper.

Courtney Force, who won Sunday’s title, is within 16 points of catching Ron while Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. is fifth and only 19 behind Ron. Alexis DeJoria is sixth (74 behind Ron) and DSR’s Matt Hagan is seventh (89 behind).

“We’re at the time of the year when the smallest mistake can be critical,” Ron said.

“As a big fan of drag racing, these next three races are going to be exciting. But as a driver, it couldn’t be more nerve wracking.”

Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Dodge team need three solid races starting at Seattle to earn top-10 spot in NHRA Countdown

– Matt Hagan couldn’t be farther from home on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit than he will be when he arrives at Pacific Raceways at Kent, Wash., for this week’s Northwest NHRA Nationals.

The 2,800-mile gap from Kent to his home at Christiansburg, Va., might seem even farther as the annual NHRA “Western Swing” comes to a close this weekend after three races in three weekends that included stops near Denver and San Francisco.

Matt and his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodger Charger R/T team led by Dickie Venables are ready for a weekend off before getting back on the trail again to race at Brainerd, Minn., in two weeks.

It’s been a grinding season for Matt and his team but advancing to the semifinals Sunday at Sonoma Raceway was a solid performance that enabled them to maintain their hold on seventh place in the Mello Yello top-10.

Matt and other Mello Yello Series drivers approach the most critical three-race stretch of the first 18 races of the year.

Matt’s No. 7 position is a little precarious; while he is only 89 points out of third place, he also is only 107 points from dropping out of the top-10.

“We sure love being in seventh but a lot can happen in these next three races,” said Matt, who won the 2011 Funny Car world championship. “You can go from hero to zero in a hurry out here because the competition is so fierce.

“I know Dickie and our Mopar/Rocky guys are going to give me a great Dodge this weekend and I’ll do my job the best I can. But there are no guarantees in drag racing and after missing the Countdown in 2012 that’s a feeling we sure don’t want to feel again.”

A year ago, Matt qualified fourth and went on to win the Northwest title that helped him finish the year ranked second in points.

Spencer, Battery Extender team get win light to snap slump, ready for Seattle to begin their charge up Top Fuel standings

– Spencer Massey stopped one streak Sunday at the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Sonoma, Calif., and he’s ready to start a new one with the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher team this weekend near Seattle.

Spencer advanced to the quarterfinals at Sonoma Raceway that ended a streak of having his day end in the first round the previous three events, and now the native of Fort Worth, Texas, wants to see four win lights and begin a winning streak with his first event title in the Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

“I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever get out of the first round,” he said joking. “This is the same team that has won two Wally (trophies) this season and we’re going to get to the winner’s circle again.

“The Seattle track is beautiful and I want a Wally from there,” said Spencer, who won the pole in 2012 but has never raced in the championship round at the scenic track.

Spencer and the team led by crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara fell one spot Sunday to sixth in Mello Yello Drag Racing Series standings but are in a very good position to qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff.

When the top-10 in points are finalized upon conclusion of the Mello Yello regular season, which includes this weekend’s race near Seattle and events at Brainerd, Minn., and near Indianapolis, the points totals will be reset for the 10 Top Fuel drivers eligible to win the season title in the Countdown that closes the season.

The Battery Extender team trails points leader Doug Kalitta by 316 and it would take an unheard of charge to catch the leader, but Spencer is fighting for more than trophies.

The regular season points leader will start the Countdown with a 30-point margin over the No. 2 driver and positions 2 through 10 will be separated by 10-point increments. That means each jump he can make in the standings could be pivotal as the Countdown winds down.

Spencer is five points out of fifth place and trails Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher by 49 for the No. 4 position. He is 103 points out of third.

“I know Phil and Todd with our Battery Extender team can get us up to third before it’s over and put us in position to challenge for our first championship,” Spencer said. “I know I have to keep doing my job by cutting lights and getting our car down the track.”

Jack, Valvoline team down to the wire but belief continues within DSR team it will get into the NHRA Countdown playoff

– Jack Beckman wasn’t surprised when two tires on his motorhome blew Monday on his way home to Southern California after a disappointing day at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco.

With his family along for the weekend trip to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Northern California, two flat tires didn’t help inflate their spirits after Jack and the Valvoline SynPower Dodge Charger R/T team lost in the opening round against the they most needed to beat.

After an impressive No. 4 qualifying run Friday night, Jack was paired in the opening round against Tim Wilkerson, the driver with whom he is battling for the No. 10 ranking in the Mello Yello standings. Jack lost the No. 10 spot and regained it during qualifying but the first-round loss dropped him to 11th and 19 points behind Wilkerson. (Each round win in eliminations is worth 20 points.)

“The way things have been going for us on Sundays lately I should have expected something to go wrong with the motorhome on the way home,” Jack said.

But there is no bigger fighter in drag racing than Jack, and he promises to move forward this weekend in the Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

When the points are reset, the leader in the standings will hold a 30-point advantage over No. 2 with points dropping at 10-point increments from second to 10th.

“We know we have a very good car and that showed at Sonoma when we qualified fourth,” Jack said. “It’s frustrating because every weekend it seems like something different stops us from gaining the consistency we need.

“Everyone on the Valvoline Dodge team believes we’ll make it into the Countdown and we want to get as high as we can because each spot we gain is worth 10 more points,” said Jack, who won the 2012 Funny Car world championship by a record two points.

Antron has 30 big reasons why his Matco Tools team wants to end regular season with Mello Yello points lead

– Antron Brown and the Matco Tools have three NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events left to claim the No. 1 spot in the standings, and he can think of 30 good reasons to reach that goal.

When the top-10 in points are finalized upon conclusion of the Mello Yello regular season, which includes this weekend’s race near Seattle and events at Brainerd, Minn., and near Indianapolis, the points totals will be reset for those 10 Top Fuel drivers eligible to win the season title in the Countdown to the Championship.

Whoever leaves Indy with the points lead will start the Countdown with a 30-point lead over the driver ranked second in regular season standings.

Antron, who has won a category-best five events titles in 15 races this year, will arrive Friday at the Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., ranked second and 46 points behind Doug Kalitta but has missed opportunities at the past two events to overtake the leader.

On Sunday at Sonoma, Calif., Antron’s team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, qualified third but were upset by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey in the first round. Fortunately for the Matco Tools team, Kalitta lost in the second round or the deficit Antron faces would be an even bigger challenge.

(Each round win on Sunday is worth 20 points.)

“Yeah, we had an opportunity there but the competition is so tough out here that those days will happen,” Antron said. “I’m just glad Doug only lasted one round more than we did.

“Brian and Mark and our Matco boys are running every race to win because if you try to play it safe it will bite you. We’re in great shape right now. Our Matco dragster is really good but we hit some real tricky conditions like everyone else these last two weekends.

“If it’s not too hot at Seattle like it’s supposed to be we’ll be ready to fly.

“We want to be No. 1 when the Countdown starts and that 30-point lead would sure be nice.”

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