NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Capps has developed an impressive resume in more than two decades of competition at Sonoma Raceway. The popular NHRA Mello Yello drag racer will add another accomplishment to that list when he is inducted into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame during the NHRA Sonoma Nationals later this month, July 31 to August 2.
Capps is a native of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast and has posted four Funny Car victories in Sonoma (1997, 2010, 2011 and 2013), as well as two runner-up finishes. Capps grew up racing on drag strips throughout California, including Baylands Raceway and Lions Drag Strip, before making his first start at then-Sears Point Raceway in 1994.
Capps recalls that he piloted John Mitchell’s “Montana Express” Top Alcohol Dragster, and went on to beat his hero Jay Payne on a holeshot in his Sonoma debut.
But the on-track statistics tell only a portion of the story, as Capps has become an active supporter of the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). Capps was among the first drivers to attend and participate in SCC’s annual NHRA Tour de Charity karting event, as well as the Eric Medlen Nitro Night fundraising dinner, and he’s missed only one event since their inceptions. These events have combined to raise more than $250,000 since 2002.
A decade ago Capps also helped to publicize and race in the emerging Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class and still holds the Heritage Series elapsed time record of 5.675 seconds in Steve Plueger’s “LA Hooker” Plymouth Arrow.
Capps will be inducted prior to pre-event ceremonies on Sunday, Aug. 2. He will become the 19th member of the raceway’s Wall of Fame, joining fellow NHRA racers Warren Johnson (2005), John Force (2006), Gary Scelzi (2007), Doug Kalitta (2008) and Don Prudhomme (2011).
“I am so honored to even be mentioned with the people on the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame,” said Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger. “I have so many great memories in Sonoma, and it’s always truly felt like my home track. I love the facility, the fans and supporting the charity there, and it is incredibly special to be inducted.”
Nationally, Capps is one of the most recognizable faces on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. He’s finished second in the Funny Car point standings four times (1998, 2000, 2005 and 2012) and earned 45 career event victories in 90 final-round appearances. He is currently ranked second in Funny Car point standings with two victories so far this season.
