By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Funny Car star Ron Capps, the second winningest driver in the history of the class, is in his 29th season competing in the NHRA professional ranks and has spent all of that time visiting Heartland Motorsports Park.
That long and successful association will come to an end on Sunday at the conclusion of the Menards NHRA Nationals, with the event moving to Odessa, Mo. in 2024 after 34 years in Topeka.
Four-time Topeka winner Ron Capps is sad to bid farewell to a track he's spent his entire career coming to. [File photo/TSN]
Capps, the three-time and reigning Funny Car world champ, has won four times in Topeka (most recently in '17) and has been the runnerup twice.
“Any time you go to a race track for the last time it’s never great, but I’m fortunate enough to have had a lot of history at Heartland Park Topeka over the years, especially early in my career when I used to go there as a crew member,'' Capps said in a team release. "Some fans may not remember, we actually used to go to Heartland Park Topeka twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
"Obviously, the history tells the tale. Records were set there pretty much every year we went. It’s a fantastic race track in the heart of the country with a lot of race fans that come from all over the place, and I’m sure we’ll see that again this weekend.''
Capps, the owner and driver for Ron Capps Motorsports (established in 2021), admits that he feels some sadness as he gets ready for his final go-around at HMP.
"We surely don’t want to think about how this will be the last time that we’re there,'' Capps said. "I always brag about the city of Topeka and how inviting and how well they’ve treated us throughout the years -- hotels, restaurants, whatever it might be -- and especially all of our fans.
"With all of that being said, that Wally that’ll have Heartland Park Topeka on it is going to be very coveted. To be able to win the last race there would be big. The NAPA Supra has been great so far this season and I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t have a shot at it, so we’re definitely going to be trying to get that last trophy.”
Capps, who will be chasing his 75th career national-event win this weekend, enters Friday night's lone qualifying session (8 p.m.) sitting second behind Matt Hagan and within one round (912-893) of reclaiming the points lead.
Capps has one win, three seconds and a No. 1 qualifier this season.
The Funny Car class will run qualifying sessions at 3:30 and 6 o'clock on Saturday, with eliminations getting under way at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Capps will also compete in Saturday's Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge.
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS SCHEDULE
At Heartland Motorsports Park
FRIDAY
10 a.m. -- Sportsman qualifying
2 p.m. -- Top Alcohol qualifying session
3 -- Street Car Takeover qualifying
5:30 -- Top Alcohol qualifying session
6:30 -- Street Car Takeover qualifying
7 -- Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition
7:15 -- Pro Stock Car qualifying
8 -- Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying
SATURDAY
8 a.m. -- Sportsman qualifying
12:30 p.m. -- Top Alcohol qualifying session
1:30 -- Street Car Takeover eliminations -- Round 1
2 -- Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition
2:15 -- Pro Stock Car qualifying
2:35 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Pro Stock Challenge -- Round 1
3 -- Top Fuel qualifying session
3:20 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge -- Round 1
3:30 -- Funny Car qualifying session
3:50 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge -- Round 1
4 -- Street Car Takeover eliminations -- Round 2
4 -- Top Alcohol Dragster eliminations -- Round 1
4:30 -- Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition
4:45 -- Pro Stock Car qualifying session
5:10 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Pro Stock Challenge -- Finals
5:30 -- Top Fuel qualifying session
5:55 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge -- Finals
6 -- Funny Car qualifying session
6:25 -- Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge -- Finals
6:55 -- Top Alcohol Funny Car eliminaions -- Round 1
7:40 -- Sportsman eliminations
SUNDAY
8 a.m. -- Sportsman eliminations
9:15 -- Top Alcohol eliminations -- Round 2
11 -- Top Fuel and Funny Car eliminations -- Round 1
12 p.m. -- Pro Stock eliminations -- Round 1
12:40 -- Top Alcohol eliminations -- Semifinals
1 -- Top Fuel and Funny Car eliminations -- Round 2
1:30 -- Pro Stock eliminations -- Round 2
1:40 -- Sportsman eliminations
2:20 -- Top Fuel and Funny Car eliminations -- Semifinals
2:35 -- Pro Stock Car eliminations -- Semifinals
2:40 -- Street Car Takeover eliminations -- Finals
3:25 -- Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition
3:50 -- Pro Stock Car eliminations -- Final
4 -- Funny Car and Top Fuel eliminations -- Finals
