Capps still reveling in 1st championship
“Finally!” Yes, that’s the thought that raced through Ron Capps’ mind when he clinched the NHRA Mello Yello Series Funny Car championship last November in Pomona, Calif.
Completely understandable: Capps’ 20-year career had taken on a mantle akin to the one which formerly burdened his San Diego-area neighbor, Phil Mickelson, long said to be the best golfer never to win a major. Mickelson finally jettisoned that and Capps did, too, after leaving behind four championship runner-up showings and the “best driver never to win a title” label with a five-victory season in the NAPA Dodge.
Fans at this weekend’s Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, which concludes with final eliminations Sunday, haven’t been calling out to Capps by name. Instead: “Hey, Champ!”
“It’s a great feeling,” admitted Capps, who qualified third with a track record 333.58 mph lap. He races Jeff Arend in Round 1.
“I get so many fans who come up and say: ‘Remember when I told you it was going to be your year?’ ” Capps said, grinning. “I’m so happy for the fans who have stuck with me. I’m a sports fan, and if your football team loses, it will ruin your day. So I know how my fans have been, talking about a championship for so many years.”
When Capps ran quicker than teammate Matt Hagan on that Saturday qualifying pass in Pomona, which officially clinched the title, he admits elation wasn’t his first feeling.
“It was relief,” Capps conceded. “I felt it building through the year and certainly those last few weeks. I let out a big exhale in the car. I couldn’t believe it.”
When his wife, Shelley, remodeled their family room during the offseason, Capps’ gold championship trophy was given a rightful place of honor.
“Over the years, racing stuff didn’t go in the house,” Capps said. “It went in my office, (but) she insisted we put it out right where we watch TV and hang out. I’m glad she did because there were so many times during the winter we’d be watching a movie and I’d look over and there’s that big trophy.
“It was a reminder: ‘Man, we finally did it. It really did happen.’ ”
Back at Pomona two weeks ago to begin his title defense, Capps uncharacteristically fouled (left starting line too soon) in the semifinals. Officially, it was only the third time he’d gone red in over 1,000 rounds.
“There’s no excuse,” he conceded. “It ripped my guts out.”
NAPA team owner Don Schumacher said: “He was just so amped-up to win that his brain and his foot didn’t get along with the Christmas Tree (staging lights).”
Capps, not surprisingly, is – finally – savoring every moment as champion. And still getting used to the perks.
“I was looking at stat sheets of everyone’s incremental (qualifying) numbers (on Friday) and saying, ‘Where’s our car?,’ ” Capps admitted. “Because I’m looking for the No. 28 (which he’s used for years) in front of my name. There’s No. 1 next to my name.
“I’ve had so much fun I’m already wanting to repeat. It’s been more than I ever imagined. Don’s like, ‘You finally got a championship, let’s make it back-toback.’ It doesn’t take long for him to set another goal.”
Pipping hot
The start of Leah Pritchett’s Top Fuel season has been hotter than a right-outof-the-oven pizza from sponsor Papa John’s.
After winning the opening race in Pomona from the pole, the defending Wild Horse winner is again quickest qualifier and has a bye in the first round Sunday as the field of 15 is one short of full. Her Friday 1,000-foot pass of 3.658 seconds, 329.34 mph wasn’t bettered in Saturday’s hot track conditions.
“It’s almost too good to be true,” admitted Pritchett, whose husband, Gary, is a crewman on Steve Torrence’s dragster. “But, it’s not, because of the extra attention to detail (from Schumacher team) is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
“I’m in a confident place I’ve never been before.”
In Funny Car, Tommy Johnson Jr. bumped Courtney Force off the pole with a late-afternoon track record elapsed time 3.837, 329.10 mph lap in the Make-A-Wish Dodge. Phil Burkart Jr. is his first-round opponent.
Jason Line remained on the Pro Stock pole in the Summit Camaro and faces Val Smeland in Round 1.
Chandler crewman
Chandler’s Chris Menapace wanted to work on a race car so much he left Gilbert High School after two years to be a mechanic on a Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Menapace, 20, now is in his first season as a crew member on Robert Hight’s Auto Club Camaro. He’s responsible for the ignition and assists on engine and body work maintenance.
Menapace completed his high-school degree online. His parents are still Valley residents.