Second behind only 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force on the list of all-time Funny Car event wins, Ron Capps entered the 2016 season as the winningest fuel coupe driver without a championship to his name. That changed last Saturday, though, when the driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger secured the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Series world championship at the conclusion of qualifying at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Capps came so close to the title several times in the past, with four runner-up finishes in the season points, making his 2016 title that much sweeter.
To help congratulate their driver on his first championship, the Don Schumacher Racing staff reached out to some of Capps’ friends, who happen to be legitimate rock stars and auto racing legends, to share congratulatory messages with the longtime nitro racer. DSR put together this compilation of the videos, which feature Metallica frontman James Hetfield, Van Halen’s Michael Anthony, six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, DSR teammate Tony Schumacher, and Capps’ former team owner, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, among other stars. It’s a very cool gesture by the team at DSR, and a sign of the significance behind Capps’ first championship title. Congratulations, Ron!
This story was originally published on November 14, 2016.