Capps enjoys stellar outing in Atlanta

By foxsports
Published

Ron Capps won the NHRA Southern Nationals on Sunday at Atlanta Dragway to end John Force Racing's season-opening Funny Car winning streak at six.

Capps raced to his 34th career victory, outrunning JFR's Robert Hight in the final round with a 4.166-second run at 303.91 mph in a Dodge Charger. Hight finished in 4.399 at 273.44 in a Ford Mustang.

''We had a rough spot back in April when we didn't qualify for the Las Vegas race, but I knew good things would happen when Don (Schumacher) decided to move Rahn Tobler over to our team as crew chief,'' said Capps, who beat Daniel Wilkerson, Matt Hagan and Jeff Arend to advance to the final. ''I've learned so much from listening to him already. He's made me a better driver and I think he helped restart my career.''

Steve Torrence won the Top Fuel division, Greg Anderson topped the Pro Stock class, and Eddie Krawiec took the Pro Stock Motorcycle competition.

Torrence raced to his first Top Fuel victory and denied Tony Schumacher his first win at Atlanta Dragway, the only circuit where the seven-time series champion has failed to win. Torrence finished in 3.893 at 320.66, while Schumacher's dragster lost traction early.

Anderson raced to his third win of the season with a reaction-time advantage, holding off teammate Jason Line at the finish line. Anderson took his 73rd career victory with a run of 6.649 at 208.26 in a Pontiac. Line finished in 6.618 at 209.62.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending series champion Krawiec won for the second time this season, outrunning first-time finalist Michael Ray. Krawiec powered his Harley-Davidson to a 6.905 at 195.53. Ray finished at 7.036 at 187.94 on a Buell.