Capps returns to site of quickest ever Funny Car run
Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing's NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant John Collins uncorked a qualifying run of 3.964 seconds at 320.89 mph that remains the quickest run ever by a Funny Car last year at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,site of this weekend's NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
Courtesy: NHRA Media Relations
Englishtown, NJ- Ron Capps' appreciation for history makes every event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park special for him.
And a year ago at the track at Englishtown, N.J., the veteran Funny Car driver was able to add to the track's lore.
Capps and Don Schumacher Racing's NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant John Collins uncorked a qualifying run of 3.964 seconds at 320.89 mph that remains the quickest run ever by a Funny Car.
"It seemed like everyone I signed an autograph for the rest of the weekend wanted me to put '3.96' behind my name. That was cool," Capps said.
In NHRA, in order to set a national record Capps needed to run within 1 percent of the 3.964 before leaving Englishtown to earn the NHRA elapsed-time national record but weather conditions were not conducive to it.
"We're not even thinking about a record," Capps said. "We were focused on getting NAPA Auto Parts another trophy.
"That's our approach for this weekend. If the conditions are right, like they were last year at Englishtown, Rahn might load it up. But our focus is to go rounds and get the Wally (trophy).
Capps came up a little short at Englishtown when he lost to DSR teammate Johnny Gray, but it was the fourth championship round of six straight for the team.
Another DSR driver, Spencer Massey, produced the quickest ever Top Fuel run on the same Friday.
"I've never had a night like that," said team owner Don Schumacher, who won the Funny Car title at Englishtown in 1972. "I've had some of my teams perform extraordinarily well but never had them change Top Fuel and Funny Car marks like that on one night.
"And to do it at Englishtown just makes it more special. Englishtown is one of the renowned facilities on the circuit. As times change other facilities come to the forefront, but Englishtown carries so much history and recognition. There have been a lot of special times here."
