Capps earns Four-Wide pole at zMAX Dragway

CONCORD, N.C. (April 12, 2014) - Ron Capps earned the 16th No. 1 qualifying position of his career and the first of the season heading to Sunday's championship eliminations in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Capps time of 4.059 seconds at 314.24 mph on Friday evening in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car held up through Saturday's final day of eliminations.

Don Schumacher Racing teammates Tommy Johnson Jr. (No. 3) in the Make-A-Wish Dodge and Matt Hagan (No. 7) in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge join Capps in the top-seven. Jack Beckman qualified 10th for Valvoline MaxLife.

In Top Fuel, Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team produced the quickest run in each of Saturday's session with his best time of 3.794 (320.89) in the last group to move up to the No. 4 spot. Teammate Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army qualified sixth after winning the last NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series two weeks ago at Las Vegas. DSR's Spencer Massey, who has won the last two Four-Wide titles at zMAX qualified ninth.

The Four-Wide features heats of four drivers in two pair of lanes separated by a center dividing wall at the world's only four-lane dragstrip. The top-16 qualified cars meet Sunday in elimination rounds again in four-car heats with the first two crossing the finish line advancing to the next round. In the championship round, four finalists race for the event title, runner-up position and the other two earn semifinals championship points.

TOP FUEL

No. 1 Qualifier: Shawn Langdon (Al-Anabi Racing) 3.753 sec., 321.81 mph

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Qualified: No. 4

First round opponents: Clay Millican, Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett

QUALIFYING

FRIDAY: 3.823 sec., 319.45 mph, (Session 1); 6.627, 97.88, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 3.824, 316.45, (Session 3); 3.794, 320.89, (Session 4)

TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster

Qualified: No. 6

First round opponents: Khalid alBalooshi, Sidnei Frigo, Richard Crampton

QUALIFYING

FRIDAY: 6.044 sec., 109.48 mph, (Session 1); 3.815, 321.73, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 6.859, 93.78, (Session 3); 3.903, 304.74, (Session 4)

SPENCER MASSEY, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher Top Fuel Dragster

Qualified: No. 9

First round opponents: Steve Torrence, Shawn Langdon, Terry McMillen

QUALIFYING

FRIDAY: 4.210 sec., 207.50 mph, (Session 1); 3.827, 321.42, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 7.656, 78.79, (Session 3); 7.463, 78.15, (Session 4)

FUNNY CAR

No. 1 Qualifier: Ron Capps (Don Schumacher Racing) 4.059, 314.24 mph

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 1

First round opponents: Chad Head, Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria

QUALIFYING

FRIDAY: 6.100 sec., 110.07 mph, (Session 1); 4.059, 314.24, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 5.160, 38.94, (Session 3); 4.135, 306.74, (Session 4)

TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 3

First round opponents: Jeff Arend, Courtney Force, John Force

QUALIFYING

FRIDAY: 4.207 sec., 280.02 mph, (Session 1); 4.079, 308.57, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 4.152, 300.66, (Session 3); 4.095, 310.55, (Session 4)

MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 7

First round opponents: Jack Beckman, Robert Hight, Tony Pedregon

FRIDAY: 4.803 sec., 170.02 mph, (Session 1); 4.088, 210.91, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 10.729, 77.45, (Session 3); 4.181, 303.98, (Session 4)

JACK BECKMAN, Valvoline MaxLife Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 10

First round opponents: Robert Hight, Tony Pedregon, Matt Hagan

FRIDAY: 4.158 sec., 301.60 mph, (Session 1); 4.119, 303.84, (Session 2)

SATURDAY: 6.375, 100.11, (Session 3); 4.542, 137.27, (Session 4)

Don Schumacher Racing