When it comes to driving talents, there are not much better than Funny Car standout Ron Capps. But by the time the third and final race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Western Swing comes around, Capps knows he must be relied upon for more than just driving.
The grueling three-week Western Swing finishes with the 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, Aug. 7-9 at Pacific Raceways and the race serves as a perfect example as to why Capps’ duties stretch far beyond driving his 10,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.
“Everybody is just worn out and you want to be the best you can be in the car, but also be a great cheerleader and get their spirits up,” Capps said. “When your team is being challenged or when things are down just a little bit, that’s when it’s on you to help keep everybody together. It’s not all about driving, and lifting the team up is one of the best and most important parts of being a driver.”
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the race that will once again be televised on ESPN2. Serving as the only major American motorsport that visits that corner of the country each racing season, it is the 16th of 24 events in 2015.
Along with signaling the end of the Western Swing, only two races follow it before the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. That means a strong outing can pay dividends heading into the NHRA’s six-race playoffs and a big reason why Capps wants to be on top of his game heading into the event.
“You’re trying to position yourself to have a great race car for the Countdown,” said Capps, who has 45 career victories. “By the time this race and Brainerd come around, you feel like you’re right on the edge of having to get everything ready. You have to make sure you get your act together and, for me, it’s always nice to be able to win one of these races on the (Western) Swing.”
Only Seattle remains for Capps, who fell in the first round in Denver and the second round in Sonoma. A turnaround in Seattle would be a welcome sign for Capps after three straight first-round losses.
But Capps isn’t totally down as the car has performed well even in defeat. Plus, he has seen what the team, led by crew chief Rahn Tobler, is capable of in 2015, as Capps has already posted two wins and five final round appearances.
He’s also been the Funny Car points leader for a brief time this year, which is enough for Capps to know his team is capable of competing for and winning a world championship title.
“We have been a little inconsistent but it’s not that I’m worried about it,” Capps said. “The last race in Denver we qualified OK. But overall the last 5-6 races we haven’t qualified where we needed to be to have a first round where you don’t have to race like it’s the final round. We’re working real hard on the clutch set-up. As long as we start to hit it and get going right about now we’ll be OK. This (Western) Swing tells a lot about how things are going to be in the Countdown.”
That could be a good sign for Capps, considering he has had success at Pacific Raceways, including his first career win in 1995, which came in the Top Fuel category. He followed that with a Funny Car victory there in 1998, and has posted four runner-up finishes since then, but would like to break the long drought at the track with another win in 2015.
To get back into Pacific Raceways’ winner’s circle he’ll have to get by Force, who has eight career wins at the event, as well as three-time Seattle winner Tim Wilkerson, Denver and Sonoma winner Jack Beckman, 2012 winner Courtney Force, two-time and defending world champ and 2013 winner Matt Hagan, Chicago winner Tommy Johnson Jr., two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria and Worsham.
“I’ve always loved going to Seattle and anytime you go back to a place where you got your first win, it’s special,” said Capps, who along with Del Worsham are the only drivers who have won the event in both nitro classes. “I’ve always done pretty well there and it’s a unique place. It has a rich history and it’s almost a throwback race. There’s a huge, rabid fanbase and every time I go there it’s a good time.”
The Top Fuel class features a host of stars, including defending event winner Kalitta, as well as four-time race winner, points leader and defending world champion Tony Schumacher, who looks to tie Joe Amato for most Top Fuel wins at the facility. Other standouts who expect to compete for the event win include 2012 world champ and 2009 Seattle winner Antron Brown, 2003 winner and three-time world champ Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Spencer Massey, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Denver winner Steve Torrence, and Richie Crampton.
Line’s win over teammate Greg Anderson one year ago gave the two-time Pro Stock world champ his third Seattle victory, tying him with Anderson and Kurt Johnson for second all-time. Line has two wins in 2015 and he joins teammate and points leader Anderson, who has four wins at Seattle, in searching for more Pacific Raceways glory. Defending world champ and 2012 event winner Erica Enders, 2012 world champ Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile, Denver winner Larry Morgan, rookie talent Drew Skillman and Sonoma champ Chris McGaha all figure to be drivers to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.
The NHRA Northwest Nationals also will feature thrilling side-by-side competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
