2014 Southern Nationals Returns Special Memories to Ron Capps

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 13, 2014) – Ron Capps’ relationship with NAPA AUTO PARTS began in 2008 at Don Schumacher Racing and since then each year he has competed in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga., he wants to have a long day of racing on Sunday.

Of course his goal at every event on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit is to be racing in the championship round of eliminations, but the Atlanta event carries extra luster.

Ron has won 13 of his 41 NHRA event titles with NAPA AUTO PARTS on his Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, and none was bigger than in 2012 when he won in the backyard of Atlanta-based NAPA AUTO PARTS.

NAPA’s headquarters is about 70 miles southwest of the Commerce track and there is nothing better for Ron than to celebrate winning an NHRA Wally trophy with your sponsor and family.

The 2012 Atlanta title was the first for Ron since team owner Don Schumacher paired him with three-time world championship crew chief Rahn Tobler four races into the season.

“I’d been to the final round there four times and it couldn’t have meant more to finally win there for NAPA AUTO PARTS and to do it with Tobler,” Ron said.

One of the guests in the winner’s circle was Mike Rearden, who oversees the NAPA AUTO PARTS motorsports program.

“Mike has been such a big supporter of our program, and that’s why I gave him the Wally that day. I spend so much time with my NAPA family all across the country to have Mike and other NAPA friends from Atlanta there with me is something we’ll all remember.”

A title in the 2014 Southern Nationals, which begins with qualifying Friday and Saturday leading to Sunday’s eliminations for the top-16 qualifiers, would bring back even more special memories.

Atlanta is where Ron advanced to his first of 82 final rounds in 1995 while a rookie driving the Top Fuel dragster owned by Roger Primm.

“That doesn’t seem like a long time ago,” Ron said. “But it’s been 18 years and 417 races since then.”

The race near Atlanta is the first of three in three weeks for the Mello Yello series. From Commerce, Ga., the series moves to Topeka, Kan., and Englishtown, N.J. It’s the first of three segments on the 24-event schedule with three or four events on successive weekends.

The following are Ron’s Atlanta, season and career statistics:

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T                                                                       

ATLANTA BY THE NUMBERS

Last event (April 27, Houston): Qualified No. 6; lost in semifinals to Jack Beckman
A year ago at Atlanta: Qualified No. 2; lost in quarterfinals to Johnny Gray
Career at Atlanta: Wins 1 (2012); Runner-ups 3 (2001, 2000, 1995); Poles 0

                Pts           Events      Titles                        Rup          Semi         Qtr          1st rd       Poles        DNQ         Win/Loss
2014       5th              6              0                            0               3              1              2              1              0                  7-6
CAREER                417           41 40 FC/1 TF          41           71           84         162           16           18         513-358

Best Time, Speed: 3.964* sec., (5-31-12, Englishtown, N.J.); 320.89 mph (5-31-12, Englishtown)

                                        * Quickest ever in NHRA                 

NHRA MELLO YELLO FUNNY CAR STANDINGS

FUNNY CAR                                           

driver (wins), points
1. Robert Hight (3), 609
2. John Force (1), 487
3. Alexis DeJoria (2), 431
4. Del Worsham (0), 361
5. RON CAPPS (0), 356
6. JACK BECKMAN (0), 336
7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR., 323
8.  MATT HAGAN (0), 289
9. Tim Wilkerson (0), 277
10. Courtney Force (0), 275

NHRA Southern Nationals Schedule

Friday: 5, 7:15 p.m., nitro qualifying
Saturday: 1:15, 4 p.m., nitro qualifying
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations

On ESPN2

Saturday: 6-8 p.m., qualifying
Sunday: 9 p.m.-12 a.m., championship eliminations

Featured image: At Commerce in 2013, Capps performs a burnout in the NAPA Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car wearing a special NAPA Brakes paint scheme.