NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Off to a phenomenal start during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and heading to one of his favorite races on the NHRA circuit means things are coming together almost perfectly for Funny Car points leader Ron Capps.

 

The longtime standout has already posted a Funny Car-best four victories in 2016 and will likely remain the leader heading into the second stop of the famed Western Swing, the 29th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 29-31, at Sonoma Raceway.

 

A first career Funny Car world championship in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T continues to be Capps’ chief goal, but doing well at Sonoma Raceway, where Capps has four career wins, remains a major priority.

 

“It’s absolutely my favorite time of the year,” Capps said. “Thank goodness I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of success at the track. It just seems to be one of those places where we’ve got a good feel. It’s a nice facility and everything is done right there.

 

“We stay in my motorhome up on the hill and you get up, have some coffee, and look outside, and it’s amazing. It overlooks Napa Valley, and it’s just a great track to be at. It’s a destination event. Plus, that Friday night session is one of the favorites for everybody. The track holds everything you throw at it.”

 

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winner of an event that will be televised by the FOX national broadcast network for the first time. It is the 15th of 24 events during the 2016 season, and only three events follow it before the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

 

That means it comes at a key time, and Capps, whose 48 career Funny Car wins ranks second behind only John Force, is well aware of that. But instead of major changes, Capps and his team, led by standout crew chief Rahn Tobler, only need minor tweaks after an incredible stretch this summer. Capps won three races in the four-race Eastern Swing and then advanced to the final round at the Chicago race.

 

That has Capps confident heading into Sonoma, but he is well aware of how quickly things can change with 10,000-horsepower cars. After winning the season opener in Pomona, Capps failed to qualify three races later in Las Vegas, giving Capps and his team plenty of motivation to keep pushing forward.

 

“Rahn is really happy with what we have,” said Capps, who has 49 career wins. “We have a good scenario right now. We know we have a good car, and hopefully we can get some more wins. But you don’t want artificial confidence. We were running great earlier this year and then we DNQ’d at Vegas. That is a reminder that anything can happen at any time. That was a good lesson for our team, but it’s nice to have a group of guys you know you can trust.”

 

It’s a fine line because what Capps has done thus far has worked tremendously well. But just as Beckman made a statement a year ago in the class in Sonoma with record-breaking runs and a victory, Capps would like to do the same this year at the facility.

 

“A lot of times you can find yourself going through the motions during the middle of the year, but when you see Sonoma, you get those Countdown itches,” said Capps, who was inducted into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame a year ago.

 

“You’re either where you want to be or you’re fighting to move up. It’s a crucial point in the season with the Countdown right around the corner. You want to get your setup to how you want it to be for the Countdown.”

 

Of course, that means the rest of the star-studded Funny Car class will be looking to close in on Capps’ points lead in Sonoma, including Beckman, who outlasted Capps in the final round in Chicago. Others to watch at Sonoma Raceway include John Force, who will look to claim his eighth Sonoma win; Courtney Force; two-time 2016 event winner Matt Hagan; Alexis DeJoria; Tim Wilkerson; and Robert Hight.

 

A victory in Sonoma would be another great step in Capps’ quest for a championship, which he hopes includes the points lead when the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.

 

“We’ve had great success this year, but surely we want to enter the Countdown with the lead,” Capps said. “If we keep running the way we are, hopefully we can stay up there. But you can’t coast because there are a lot of teams coming on strong.”

 

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 30, at 1:10 and 5 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 31.

 

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-870-RACE (7223). Tickets also are available online at www.sonomaraceway.com. Kids 12 and under are admitted free on Saturday, July 30, in general-admission areas with a paid adult (advance only).