NAPA’s Capps, Army’s Schumacher finish qualifying strong before sold-out Maple Grove crowd on sunny Countdown day

MOHNTON, PA – World champions Ron Capps and Tony Schumacher made the biggest moves for Don Schumacher Racing Saturday on a perfectly sunny day before a massive sold-out crowd at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa.

Capps, who will seek his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title at Maple Grove when racing begins noon Sunday (EDT), was the quickest Funny Car in the fourth and final qualifying session in his NAPA AUTO PARTS Powered by Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T. He closed qualifying with the last session’s best time of 3.901 seconds at 332.10 mph. He is No. 3 in qualifying from his 3.877 on Friday.

The 33rd annual Dodge Nationals is the second of six events in the Countdown to the Championship playoff in which all seven DSR teams are qualified.

“We came here knowing we needed to get some qualifying bonus points and we absolutely did that,” said Capps, who concluded the 18-race regular season as the top seed but dropped to second last weekend near Charlotte.

“Right before that last run, (crew chief Rahn) Tobler went into the (computer) box and made some adjustments and they paid off. That was a good show and a fun run right there. Now we need four just like it tomorrow so we can finally get a Maple Grove trophy.”

Schumacher was second best to open Friday and closed Saturday qualifying with the session’s best time of 3.736 (330.23) to lead DSR with the No. 5 qualifying spot with the U.S. Army team led by crew chief Mike Green and assistant Phil Shuler.

“All the cars out there are too good to predict anything,” Schumacher said. “It’s whoever brings an A-game tomorrow. It has nothing to do with today or yesterday; it’s all about tomorrow.

“We’ve been doing this a long, long time and they’re all good cars and anyone can win on any given Sunday. We had low ET of the day with the sun out and conditions that are as close to tomorrow as we’ve seen. Set the weight of the world on our shoulders and watch us do our job. The conditions tomorrow are going to be even hotter than they were today and this U.S. Army team is ready to get after it.”

Following Schumacher, the eight-time world champ, are teammates Leah Pritchett and the 80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil dragster at No. 6 and three-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team, which left with the Wally Trophy a year ago, qualified No. 8.

Capps’ teammate, Matt Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane Dodge with crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen produced two solid runs Saturday and their time of 3.874 from Friday held up to give them the No. 2 qualifying position.

“I’d like to shake this head cold, but I don’t think that will happen before tomorrow,” Hagan said. “It’s part of it. You just have to man-up and do your job.

“We had four great runs and it’s been warm both days. It could be hotter tomorrow. I can’t ask for much more than that what Dickie and Mopar Dodge team have given me this weekend.

“We’re having fun and we have a great race car,” said Hagan, whose four times ranged from 3.874 to 3.948. “We just have to go out and win this Dodge Nationals tomorrow for Mopar, New Holland and Pennzoil.”

Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler’s Infinite Hero Dodge is qualified fifth with teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who won the Maple Grove title a year ago, 11th with the Chandlers’ Make-A-Wish Dodge.