As Ron Capps continues to tour the U.S.A. with his family in their motor coach, stopping off at the required 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events along the way, the driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car is tightly focused on moving up in the point standings, as the Countdown to the Championship playoffs loom.
This weekend’s 27th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway is the first of the final three races in which drivers can earn a place in the coveted top 10 to vie for the Funny Car crown following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend. Capps is No. 7 in the rankings, but feels his perch is somewhat precarious.
“We’re still kind of on the tail end of our family (including wife Shelley, daughter Taylor and son Caden) vacation that we’ve spent in our Monaco coach traveling around the country since Norwalk (Ohio, June 29). We just left Pismo Beach in California,” said Capps from the road. “We were there for a week and we’re all back in the motor home heading to Brainerd.
“It’s been very relaxing and fun, but you have to balance that with showing up at the race track to race. And the one good thing with having the family with you is that it feels like you’re at home because your motor home is right there. And you have home cooking and you’re back with your family every night when qualifying or the race is over. You’re only a couple of minutes away, and that’s always nice.
“However, especially with three races left in this Countdown chase, we’re not completely safe in the top 10,” added Capps, who is still seeking his first victory of the year. “It’s a lot fun being in Brainerd. A lot of us racers get on the golf carts and go to ‘the zoo’ (Brainerd’s famous campground) and see the fans at night and we have a great time. But then you have to be focused to show up on Sunday and race.
“Right now, we are also focused on moving ourselves up in the top 10,” said the two-time winner in Brainerd (1998 and 2001). “If we can stay on course and keep running as well as we have been lately we can fight into the top five. Come Indianapolis you do not want to be teetering on the No. 9 or 10 spot because we also have the Showdown bonus event at Indy for $100,000 we’d like to win again.” Capps is a three-time Showdown titlist (1998, 1999 and 2002).
“Also, now that we’re running to 1000 feet it’s completely changed everybody’s mindset. I really believe the racing has been better. Obviously, it’s been safer, but I think the fans are now understanding that changing the racing to 1000 feet was a great choice for the time being.
“There are a lot of things at this time of the season that can provide distractions if you let them. So we don’t want to have to go into Indianapolis fighting to stay in the top 10. We’d like to go in there fighting to stay in the top five and then be able to be a cheerleader and help our Don Schumacher Racing teammates Gary Scelzi, Jack Beckman (clinging to No. 10) and Jerry Toliver fight their way into the top 10.”
Besides his two Brainerd career victories, Capps was Funny Car runner-up in 1997 (John Force) and No. 1 qualifier in 2000.
RON CAPPS QUICK FACTS:
* No. 7 in Funny Car points after 15 2008 events; one runner-up, four semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, eight first-rounds
* Qualified No. 12 in Brainerd in 2007, lost first round to Jack Beckman
* Brainerd Funny Car winner in 1998 and 2001, runner-up in 1997
* No. 1 qualifier in Brainerd in 2000
* No. 4 in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Led 2007 Funny Car point standings by as much as 154 points through 14 of the first 17 races of the season
* Had three wins in seven final rounds in 2007; two semifinal finishes, four quarterfinals, nine first rounds, and one DNQ
* Round win-loss record in 2007 was 32-19
* NAPA AUTO PARTS is new primary sponsor for 2008
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2005
* Has three Skoal Showdown titles: 1998, 1999 and 2002
* Third in 2006 final point standings
* Had class-best five wins in 2006
* Had three wins, four runner-up finishes in 2005 (St. Louis was his first win for DSR in ‘05)
* 2005 Funny Car championship runner-up, eight points short of title
* Qualified No. 1 once in 2005, in Dallas; first time since Brainerd 2000
* Has seven career No. 1 qualifiers, none in 2006, ‘07, or ‘08 so far
* A perennial fan favorite, Capps has driven and won in both Top Fuel and Funny Cars since he began his pro NHRA career in 1995
* His best season points finishes were seconds in Funny Car in 1998, 2000 and 2005
* He has 25 event wins in 53 final rounds to his credit (24 national event wins in Funny Car, one in Top Fuel)
* His career-best elapsed time (established during an event) is 4.694 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas
* His career-best speed is 331.61 mph (Pomona 1, ‘07)
* Capps’ career round win-loss record is 327-246
* Capps’ career record against 14-time champion Force is 17-40 in round wins. He’s won nine of the last 13 meetings against Force, and has won the last four of five first-round match-ups over Force
* Age 43 (June 20, 1965); born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
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