Ron Capps Motorsports Takes on the Funny Car Championship

Ron Capps, Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Katherine Wooten of NAPA
Ron Capps, Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Katherine Wooten of NAPA
Ron Capps, Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Katherine Wooten of NAPA

There’s another new NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series team in town, in Brownsburg, IN to be specific. Two time and reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion is setting out on his own, and has formed Ron Capps Motorsports, Inc. to campaign his car as team owner and driver. RCM will be attempting back-to-back titles once the 2022 NHRA Camping World Series gets underway this February in Pomona, CA.

While rumors have dogged Capps and his Dean “Guido” Antonelli and John Medlen-led team since they capped the 2021 season, also at Pomona, with his second championship, Antonelli’s first as crew chief and Medlen’s second as crew chief, “It’s probably been the worst-kept secret out there,” Capps said about the speculation concerning his future. “It’s hard to keep something secret that you’re so excited about; you just want to shout it from the rooftop! But I’m thrilled it’s finally out there.”

Ron Capps Motorsports will include the entire crew who helped the Carlsbad, CA racer secure his second title – the first came in 2016 with Rahn Tobler turning the knobs and the late Eric “Hopsing” Lane as assistant. This past year, the NAPA Funny Car team secured two wins, five final-round appearances and four No. 1 qualifying achievements. It was their consistency that helped Capps attain championship No. 2 after starting the 2021 season with an unfamiliar crew. Tobler retired from the team shortly before the start of the 2021 campaign.

The team will continue to operate from the Don Schumacher Racing workshops in Brownsburg. It isn’t known yet whether they will run the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat body; Antonelli said discussions with Dodge are ongoing, but that options are available if those negotiations fall through.

One item of great importance will remain the same. NAPA Auto Parts is returning as the primary partner for Capps’ attempt at back-to-back titles in 2022. Capps and NAPA have partnered for the past 14 years and shared 43 Winner’s Circle celebrations, along with the two world championships since the partnership began in 2007. “We have built a winning partnership over the years, so it is natural for NAPA Auto Parts to continue working with Ron through Ron Capps Motorsports,” said Marti Walsh, vice president of marketing at NAPA. “Ron is part of the NAPA family, and the sport of NHRA drag racing is in our DNA. We are excited to partner with Ron as he takes on the dual role of owner-driver.”

“Obviously,” Capps said, “2021 was one of the toughest Funny Car battles in NHRA history and it came right down to the wire, but for me, what stands out the most about this past season was working with longtime friend Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli, John Medlen and this great NAPA AutoCare team.” The second-most-successful Funny Car racer in NHRA history, with 67 category victories and 68 national event victories overall (one in Top Fuel) explained, “We were put together last-minute in January, and it just reminds you, that when you’re surrounded by great people, that all share a common goal, great things can happen.

“We fought through a lot of ups and downs throughout the year, and nobody ever gave up on anybody else. That’s what made this championship season so great. Race cars are race cars, but it’s all about the people that make that happen, and that’s something NAPA has instilled in me as well. I’ve always kept my eyes and ears open and paid attention to these great team owners that I’ve worked for, and always hoped that one day I’d have the chance to own my own team. So a huge thank you to NAPA Auto Parts for giving me this chance. I’m so excited to go in 2022 and beyond with this incredible team and NAPA’s support,” the new driver-owner said. He credited team owners he’s worked with, including Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Don Schumacher for their tutelage over the years.

Ron Capps intends to share with fans of the sport this journey with his new team ownership throughout the 22-contest NHRA Camping World season. He’ll post regular check-ins and updates through a series of blog posts on Autoweek.com. Along with the manufacturing partner, Ron Capps Motorsports will share additional associate partnership announcements at a later date as agreements are consummated.

About Anne Proffit 1232 Articles
Anne Proffit traces her love of racing - in particular drag racing - to her childhood days in Philadelphia, where Atco Dragway, Englishtown and Maple Grove Raceway were destinations just made for her. As a diversion, she was the first editor of IMSA’s Arrow newsletter, and now writes about and photographs sports cars, Indy cars, Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, Formula Drift, Red Bull Global Rallycross - in addition to her first love of NHRA drag racing. A specialty is a particular admiration for the people that build and tune drag racing engines.

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