Capps Sets His Sights On Seattle success
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Since then, he has won 29 titles in the Funny Car class, including his 1998 triumph in Seattle. He was also runner-up at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in 2001, 2006 and 2008, and No. 1 qualifier in 1997. So, it's safe to say that Seattle is a favorite venue for the California native who drives the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger Funny Car in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
"Seattle has always been a great place in my career,² said Capps, who is currently eighth in the class point standings and still seeking his first season victory. "It has a great atmosphere, people come down from Canada to watch, and it's an area that has major drag-racing fans.
"I remember back in the old days when you had all the NHRA big hitters in the '70s match racing up there. So, being able to win there in Top Fuel and Funny Car and knowing it's a place that's always been good to me in my career, is nice. But it doesn't equate to much as far as what you can apply to the car nowadays."
Capps and the NAPA team are adjusting to the crew chief change that was made before the last race in Norwalk, Ohio, when John Medlen took over, with Capps' longtime tuner Ed "Ace" McCulloch becoming a consultant for the three Funny Car teams under the Don Schumacher Racing umbrella.
"It's well documented that you don't have to have the best car most of the season up until Indy (the first of six events in the Countdown to 1 playoffs)," said Capps. "It really does you no good.
"What excites me right now is how the NAPA team feels after Norwalk, how encouraged they are, and how tuned in John Medlen is. "Clinching a spot in the Countdown and all that's going to be fine and dandy, but being able to work our way back to where our NAPA Dodge belongs is going to be a fun time.
"I've always said that you learn the character of a person and a team when you're not doing so well at the track. I've got the best team in the world, there's no doubt about it. There was more cheerleading going on for each other trying to help out when we were struggling, than anything else. That tells me how good a team that we have.
"When you go through spots like we did the last few races and you see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's encouraging, and you can't wait to get to the track on Thursday, see all of your team members, then put on your fire suit on Friday and get ready to make your first run."