Back in August of 2004 Ron Capps expressed his interest in driving a vintage nitro funny car, but because of contractual restrictions at the time no deal could be worked out with a Chevy bodied and Chevy powered flopper. When the new year found Capps driving a MOPAR for Don Schumacher, Ron reaffirmed his interest once again and set the wheels in motion to drive at Pomona. Capps qualified 6th with Dale Pulde’s tuning at a best of 6.565 at 215.72 mph.
Unfortunately 2004 VRA funny car champ Randy Walls severely damaged his engine block when a handful of rods let go through the side. Ed Schwarz in the beautiful Estrus Vega also had engine problems and could qualify no better than ninth.
After two days of near 100 degree humid heat for qualifying, Sunday morning brought more heat for eliminations. Dan Horan Jr. smoked the tries in the first round against Mike Adams' Corvette Funny Car and Larry Pettit’s Crazy Horse Mustang defeated a tire-smoking Ron Capps in Gaynor’s ‘Cuda.
Nate Bugg in his ’76 Monza-bodied entry defeated Mike Savage and Dennis LaChartie cranked off a stellar 6.17 at 231.00 to defeat Jeff Utterback. In round two Pettit defeated LaChartie in a close 6.225 to 6.272 run by the Vette. Nate Bugg defeated Mike Savage, who returned under the VRA Break Rule.
