BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 7, 2014) – Don Schumacher Racing will compete in the country’s biggest special drag racing event of the year when its NAPA AUTO PARTS and Matco Tools team head to Northern Ohio to compete in Saturday night’s “Night Under Fire” at Summit Motorsports Park at Norwalk, Ohio.
Antron Brown and his Matco Tools team will race against Brittany Force of John Force Racing in Top Fuel while Ron Capps and his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T will race in a field with John Force, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr. Each driver will make two passes down the Norwalk track during the unique night that is not part of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
The Mello Yello Series competed at Norwalk July 4-6 and three of the four finalists at the event will be at the Night Under Fire. Brown, who is ranked No. 2 in Top Fuel standings, won one of his five event titles this year at the track.
Capps and his third-ranked Funny Car team advanced to the championship round where he lost to John Force.
Although NHRA championship points won’t be on the line, Capps and the other drivers will be entertaining a capacity crowd and have a chance for a little on-track testing.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve match-raced one of these Funny Cars but a couple times a year I’ll race at shows in a Nostalgia Funny Car,” Capps said of his 320-mph NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge and the old-style Funny Cars that reach up to 260 mph. He has been the Norwalk Mello Yello runner-up three of the past four seasons.
“Funny Car match racing is what I grew up watching and there aren’t many tracks that bring in top nitro cars like the Bader family does at Norwalk. It will be fun to be there with so many fans.”
Brown, who participated in match-races on an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle but never in a 10,000-horsepower Top Fueler, has faced Brittany Force twice this year in the championship rounds and won each time.
“It isn’t any different than racing in the Mello Yello series but you don’t get a big trophy,” he said, adding his oldest son Anson will be going along for the show.
“It’s always a great time going to the Baders’ track and it will be more fun without the pressure of being an NHRA national event. They put on a heckuva show up there; it’s like a rock concert or a hip-hop concert. The grandstands will be jam-packed and we’re all going to have a great time.”
The Mello Yello Series returns with its 17th of 24 events on Aug. 15-17 at Brainerd, Minn., where Capps won along with DSR teammate Spencer Massey in Top Fuel.