Reigning NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car champion Ron Capps completed the finest run of success in his professional driving career on Sunday at the Menards Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kansas by earning his career-high fourth straight national event title in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge on a fast and furious weekend of racing.
I’m just the luckiest dude in the world. – Ron Capps
“Unbelievable,” said Capps. ”We couldn’t go toe to toe with those guys in qualifying but no one is better than (crew chief) Rahn Tobler on race day.”
Capps arrived at Heartland Park on Sunday morning to find Tobler and his crew changing the fuel pump on the NAPA car, but it proved to be the right call in the end. “To change a fuel pump on Sunday is incredible,” Capps said. “It took a lot of guts for him to do that and look what happened.”
Tobler again had to make a tough call just prior to the final round when, with lane choice, he opted to change lanes just before the call to fire the cars.
Four-in-a-row – how do you not respect that? They laid the hammer down and they’re getting it done. – Matt Hagan
“Obviously boss man (Don Schumacher) is happy when two of his cars go to the finals,” said Hagan. “Hats off to NAPA and those guys, Ron Capps and Tobler, they’re killing it man. Four-in-a-row – how do you not respect that? They laid the hammer down and they’re getting it done.”
Capps streak began at Houston with a final round defeat of Robert Hight, followed by a win at the Four-Wide Nationals over teammates Hagan and Jack Beckman, along with J.R. Todd, and most recently, a triumph over Tim Wilkerson at Atlanta.
If his championship season a year ago was the dream, then it’s one Ron Capps has yet to wake from.
Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster