Ahead of Englishtown, Capps Recalls Record Quickest Funny Car Pass

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 27, 2014) – Ron Capps is a true historian of NHRA racing and when he flips open the 2014 NHRA Media Guide and turns to page 255, under Old Bridge Township Raceway Park Track Records, it lists 3.964 seconds Ron Capps and 320.89 mph Ron Capps.

Two years ago on Friday, June 1, in the NHRA Summernationals, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Rahn Tobler posted the jaw-dropping run under the lights at the historic East Coast facility. The 3.964-second elapsed time was quick enough for one of Ron’s 16 career No. 1 qualifying awards and still remains the quickest Funny Car pass recorded at 1,000-feet.

“That place has historically had such big moments in our sport and for our NAPA team it still holds one of biggest moments any Funny Car team can talk about and that’s that 3.96 run we made,” Ron said. “We knew going in there it would be stout with really good conditions and we made a good opening lap and Tobler went for it and it made it on the night run.”

While Ron came up short to former DSR teammate Johnny Gray in the final round two days later, he did taste victory at the famed central New Jersey track in 2006 in another classic all-DSR final round beating four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi on a holeshot.

“It’s one of those tracks that you seem to feel like you’ve accomplished a little more when you win there and we did that in 2006,” Ron said of his only victory at Raceway Park. “When you grew up and read about Raceway Park and heard those crazy radio commercials, you want to do well there.

“There’s nothing like the fans from New Jersey and surrounding area, they’re intense. You know how they feel and the place is always packed. I remember driving into the track for the first time when I drove for Don Prudhomme and all the historic events that have taken place, it really overwhelms you.”

Ron and the NAPA team hope to overwhelm Raceway Park again when racing begins Friday as they try to win their first event title of the season and 41st of his career.

“If we see conditions on Friday night like we did two years ago, there’s no doubt somebody is going to break that mark,” he said. “The runs we saw at the beginning of this year with guys dipping into the mid-3.90s, there’ s nothing cooler than going into a track knowing you have a shot at history.”

The following are Ron’s Englishtown, career and 2014 statistics:

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS DODGE CHARGER R/T

           Pts      Events Titles        Rup     Semi   Qtr     1st rd  Poles  DNQ    Win/Loss
2014    4th           8         0            0          5         1         2         1         0             11-8
CAREER          419        41*        41        73        84      162      16        18      517-360
*40 FC/1 TF

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

RON CAPPS BY THE NUMBERS                                                                     

Last event (May 25), Topeka, Kan.: Qualified No. 10; lost in semifinals to Cruz Pedregon
A year ago at Englishtown: Qualified No. 11; lost in first round to Cruz Pedregon
Career at Englishtown: Wins 1 (2006); Runner-ups 3 (2001, 2000, 1995*); Poles 1 (2012) *Top Fuel

NHRA MELLO YELLO FUNNY CAR STANDINGS

driver (wins), points
1. Robert Hight, (4), 770
2. John Force, (1), 566
3. Alexis DeJoria, (2), 509
4. RON CAPPS, 502
5. Courtney Force (1), 492
6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR., 452
7. Del Worsham, 433
8. MATT HAGAN, 403
9. JACK BECKMAN, 401
10. Tim Wilkerson, 384

NHRA Summernationals Event Schedule (ET)

Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (Englishtown)
Friday: 4:45, 7 p.m., nitro qualifying
Saturday: 1:30, 4 p.m., nitro qualifying
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations

ON ESPN2
Saturday: 4:30-6 p.m., qualifying
Sunday: 4-7 p.m., championship eliminations