NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ron Capps has witnessed something special building up to start the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, as fans have returned to the track en masse.

The former Funny Car world champion could also only smile when he thought about what’s in store for the upcoming Western Swing. It looks a little different this year, as the three-race trek finishes at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the first time on July 30-Aug. 1, but the anticipation is already at a remarkable level. With night sessions highlighting each stop at Denver, Sonoma, and Pomona, Capps is predicting something special over the next three races, both from a fan standpoint and the performances on the track.

“It’s going to get even better. These tracks we’re going to like Pomona, it’s going to be incredible. Sonoma, it’s going to be unbelievable. Having these night sessions, it’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be badass,” Capps said.

“Every fan has been thanking us that they can smell their nitro and watch drag racing. Thank goodness we’ve got the fans we’ve got, and they’re so ready. People are starving for their NHRA Drag Racing, there’s no doubt about it, and they let us know.”

The Western Swing kicks off July 16-18 with the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, which will hold its first race since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An always-festive atmosphere in Denver will certainly be turned up a notch in 2021, and Capps has been amazed by what he’s already since this year. In Norwalk, the veteran was blown away by the fan reception, pointing to a huge number of people that left the track during Friday’s rain delay to head to a Capps appearance in downtown Norwalk, only to return to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park later that night to watch Capps rocket to the No. 1 spot in his 11,000-hp NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

It keeps Capps and his team motivated to keep pushing forward as a team full of new faces for the longtime star continues building to its first win of the year.

He’s already posted two No. 1 qualifiers, and he does have two final-round appearances, but Capps isn’t concerned that the team hasn’t picked up a victory through seven races.

“You go through these seasons where you just come out gangbusters, and you’re winning and winning,” said Capps, who is fifth in points. “Some people are like, ‘You’ve had no luck.’ No, no luck is burning the car to the ground every run. We’ve had a great car, qualified well, and we’ve had a car that could or should win every Sunday. I would, honestly, give up a few of those weird breaks now for having those breaks go our way from Indy on. It’s going to happen — we’ve got too good of a car not to win. I’m not that worried.”
Of course, it’s part of a bigger story where Don Schumacher has yet to win in Funny Car this year after posting 14 straight victories, including a 2020 sweep.

Capps hears the talk, and he’s just as irritated as Schumacher that the team hasn’t won yet, but it’s not as though the team is struggling.

The way he sees it, the group is building to a big finish, and Capps knows his team will be there for the long haul. The early-season struggles — as least as far as wins — and successes have also given Capps and his new-look team, led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli and John Medlen, a chance to gel.

“It’s just a great team. I knew all their faces, and I had seen them in the staging lanes, I just had no personal relationship with them,” Capps said. “I had never really stood around and talked with them, so it’s been cool to get to know them. I went from a team where every guy had a nickname to a team where I had to learn their names. Guido and I go way back, so that was easy, and John Medlen and I have worked together, but I was into Gainesville before I knew their names. It’s been a lot of fun.”