NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ron Capps, Funny Car points leader and driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T, spent the week leading up to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Cleveland taking in the sights and sounds of the city that included a first pitch at Progressive Field, walking the halls of the rock and roll greats and a celebration 52 years in the making.

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first championship, something the second winningest Funny Car driver in NHRA history is on the hunt for this season, and Capps was right in the thick of things in his 9th street hotel.

 

“I woke up at about 4:15 a.m. to people cheering outside,” Capps said, “I almost didn’t even make it out of my hotel on Wednesday the crowd was insane. I got claustrophobic because we just couldn’t move.”

 

When the bulk of the celebration had concluded, Capps was due up to throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at the Cleveland Indians game. The Indians would be playing for their eleventh consecutive home win. Capps, who is having a stretch of success himself, had only one goal for the night, “I just can’t bounce it in,” he explained. “It looks pretty easy but once you get out there and they’re announcing your name, yeah, I was nervous.”

 

When the crowds dispersed and after the Indians had won their 11th consecutive home game, it was time for the self-proclaimed rock and roll aficionado to mark off a bucket list item.

 

Capps ventured on a VIP tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday afternoon. Things started off in the Baker Hostetler Collection Storage Vault where Capps was able to see artifacts from Buddy Holly to Slash before wandering the main exhibit.

 

“I can definitely check this off my list,” Capps said. “This was really cool.”