Drag racing’s Ron Capps hopes to finally end title chase on top

Ron Capps, the veteran funny car drag racer, has finished second in the championship standings four times.

That includes last year, when the Carlsbad driver lost the title by only two points to Jack Beckman, his teammate at Don Schumacher Racing.

Now, with five events left in this year’s season, guess where Capps sits in the standings: Second.

This time Capps, 48, trails another teammate, 2011 funny car champion Matt Hagan, by 82 points as the National Hot Rod Assn.’s premier Mello Yello Series heads to Dallas for this weekend’s AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals.

“It didn’t work out for us last year, and sometimes it’s better to be the hunter than the hunted,” said Capps, who has three wins this year and 40 funny car victories in his career.

Last year at this point, Capps was leading the standings before Hagan surpassed him for the championship.

“Having the points lead was very nice a year ago at this time, but look where it got us,” Capps said.

“I’m not so sure that having the points lead and having a target on your back isn’t any easier than being second” with five events remaining, he added.

The season finale is Nov. 7-10 in Pomona with the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

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