Funny Car driver Ron Capps has a plea to race fans and members of the media:  Leave it alone.
 
Capps, who assumed the points lead Sunday in Robert Hight's absence, said he wants the drag racing message boards, Internet sites, and newspapers to cease speculation on what caused Eric Medlen's fatal accident. He said he's confident that John Force Racing will release the information as soon as it is 100-percent certain. 

"I read the Internet sites just like anyone else," Capps said. "I go for the news of our sport. I'm still a big fan of the sport. I like to read up on the latest stuff.

"What has been bugging me and a few other people … The bad thing is that people are making assumptions. We know the result were the harmonics from the tire flapping around. What caused that, we don't know. I assure everyone … and I can’t speak for John … but in talking to him and knowing him very well … the truth will come out and I'm sure it will be before Las Vegas. I just want people to stop having discussions what to do. 

"The same thing happened right after Dale Earnhart’s death. You saw pictures on the Internet and it was the most unbelievable thing.

"In the long run, this will be the best thing … whether Force builds a Car Of Tomorrow … which I think he will. Don Schumacher Racing will follow him. That's what we think of John Force and John Medlen --that whole group over there. The time they are taking is to make our sport safer, especially Funny Cars. That's the point. 

"I hate to read discussions about the subject. I know the fans just want to know and are looking to the future … and looking out for us. But let's not discuss what happened yet until the facts are out, myself included."

Capps had his own inspiration Saturday. Almost all drivers and crew chiefs attended a special meeting Friday. Members of the drag racing media were not invited to participate. 

"Some things were put out of context by a reporter," he said. "I was asked one thing about one thing and the next thing the guy wanted to know if the speed was a factor in Eric's death. Eric only ran to half-track. I just want people to know that we need to let it rest until John Force comes out with an explanation about what really happened. That includes me and every driver out there.
 
"I think if the fans really want to support everyone out here, we will leave this issue alone. We'll find out soon enough. John Force has been very open. That call they made on Friday morning was unbelievable. I can't tell you how important that was to all of us to hear John Medlen talk. The guy is just a pillar," Capps said.

Capps said he hates to see the undue stress and hurt put on Force through this speculation and a number of inaccuracies. He said he's aware that sensationalism can be a part of reporting, but this time it is inappropriate. 

"I have been on the phone with John Force a couple of times this week," Capps said. "You can hear the hurt in his voice over what has happened. He has the passion to make sure this doesn't happen again.
 
"We could go another 15 or 20 years with nothing changed on these cars and that accident may not happen again. It was a freak accident that happened. The point I want to make is the members of the media that we have talked to … we have tried to stay away from the subject."

Capps has taken notice that John Force Racing is not providing lip-service in their desire to make the class safer for other teams as well as their own. They aren't keeping secrets, either. 

"The most courageous thing I have ever heard was for John Medlen to get on that call [to] the drivers and crew chiefs and explain to us what they felt happened," Capps said. "It was just for the sake us to look at our cars and make sure it didn't happen again.
 
"We are here racing … myself, Don Schumacher, and Ed McCulloch … because that is what Eric would have wanted us to do. John Force is not here because he doesn't want the same thing to happen to one of his kids. Eric was one of his kids."