Former NAPA Assistant Crew Chief Beats Capps at Englishtown
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 1, 2014) – NAPA AUTO PARTS crew chief Rahn Tobler has mentored many crewmen including assistant crew chiefs.
The last one to move into a crew chief role is John Collins who this year is leading Don Schumacher Racing’s Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
It seemed Tobler was too good of a teacher, especially on tricky track conditions like Sunday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park during the 45th annual NHRA Summernationals at Englishtown, N.J.
The NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge was paired against the Make-A-Wish car in the first round and Collins’ tune-up produced a time of 4.069 seconds at 313.58 mph that beat Tobler’s 4.153 (300.86).
“You have to remember that the crew chief in the other lane was John Collins and he worked under Rahn Tobler for several years,” Ron said. “Hats off to him for running a 4.06. They have a good team over there.
“We just got out ran. The right lane isn’t as good as the left lane but I don’t think we had an .06 to beat them.
“The track patched the right lane Friday at around 600 or 700 feet and to get over it you had make the car move earlier and quicker to get over it to keep your tires from spinning. Our car spun at that spot.”
“You can’t hang your head too much in defeat but we felt better about our chances.”
While the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is off next weekend, Ron will race Saturday night in a Nostalgia Funny Car match-race against Cruz Pedregon at Lucas Oil Raceway Park near Indianapolis.
The Mello Yello Series resumes June 13-15 at Bristol Dragway to start a stretch of four races in four weeks.
FUNNY CAR
Winner: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing)
No. 1 Qualifier: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing) 3.959 sec. (track record, quickest ever), 310.48 mph
CAPPS at Englishtown, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
FIRST ROUND: Tommy Johnson Jr. (4.069 sec., 313.58 mph) def. CAPPS (4.153, 300.86)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.074 sec., 307.65 mph, (Session 1); 4.909, 157.56 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 5.292, 137.58 (Session 3); 4.054, 306.40 (Session 4)
NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS
(Unofficial through June 1, 2014; DSR drivers in CAPS)
FUNNY CAR
driver (wins), points
1. Robert Hight (4), 847
2. John Force (1), 601
3. Alexis DeJoria (2), 564
4. Del Worsham, 535
5. RON CAPPS, 534
6. Courtney Force (1), 527
7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR., 508
8. Cruz Pedregon, 506
9. JACK BECKMAN, 480
10. MATT HAGAN, 454