MADERA, California — On his off weekend from his usual gig as driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Funny Car in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ron Capps finished sixth driving the No. 51 Race for Autism Late Model at Madera (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday.
"It was so much fun. I can't get over how much fun it is to be locked in a battle with somebody on a short track like that and have the other car within inches of you racing side by side for three or four laps with your spotter talking in your ear at the"— Ron Capps
Capps matched his result the last time he drove in a Late Model car for Bill McAnally in Roseville, Calif, last season, finishing sixth for car owner Carlos Vieira of Merced, Calif., after qualifying ninth, in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Model 50-lap feature. The event was held during the NASCAR Camping World Series West NAPA/TOYOTA 150.
"It was only my second time in a Late Model and it was on another short track," said Capps, NHRA Funny Car points leader. "It was a very difficult track, very slick. I don't have a lot of experience in these cars so my goal was to do well and bring the car back in one piece, which was similar to what happened in Roseville last year.
"It was so much fun. I can't get over how much fun it is to be locked in a battle with somebody on a short track like that and have the other car within inches of you racing side by side for three or four laps with your spotter talking in your ear at the same time. For us drag racers our runs so over so quickly, usually in about four seconds, and we just don’t get to enjoy it.
"Carlos' crew was first-class all the way. He had great equipment and Carlos himself finished right in front of me in fifth.
"At one point we actually had a red flag and I got to experience my first pit stop. The car was sp loose I couldn't get off the corners without the rear end coming out and so the guys on the radio told me when we got back on green to come in and do a quick pit stop to tighten up the car.
"I went back out at the back of the field and the car was immediately faster and I started passing people and worked my way up to sixth.
"Raising money for the Race for Autism was our primary goal and there was a huge fan turnout for the race and for our autograph session. It was a great experience all the way around. It couldn't have been more fun or more rewarding."
