Ron Capps is not the type of guy to take anything for granted.

Consider how he spent much of his free time last week in the paradise conditions of Hawaii during a promotional event for his sponsor NAPA.

“I bet I checked the weather for Ennis, Texas, at a minimum of 50 times,” Capps said. “I checked it in the morning, afternoon and any other chance I got. Let me tell ya, we watch the weather like we’re 90-year-old maids sitting at home with nothing to do.”

That extra diligence paid off Friday at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis as Capps posted a time of 3.872 seconds at 329.58 mph during the early evening session to earn three qualifying bonus points.

“We just went to No. 1, which we haven't done in a long time,” Capps said.

The 2017 season for Capps includes one odd stat.

While the Carlsbad, California, resident has won eight events and holds a 46-point edge over Robert Hight in the Funny Car championship standings, the defending world champion is still searching for his first No.1 qualifier of the season.

“I know we are not known to be low qualifier on these cool condition tracks, but we went 3.87,” Capps said. “We got the three bonus points. I know that doesn't sound like much. But trust me, those little points are important. It’s funny how much you start thinking about so many little things coming into this event.”

With weather conditions predicted to be in the near perfect 69-degree zone for Sunday’s eliminations, Capps and his proven brain trust of crew Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane plan to use Saturday as a research and development mission.

“It's going to be warm so we're not sure we can run quicker than Friday,” Capps said. “But on Sunday, it's going to be in the high-60s and records will fall. The cool conditions will level the playing field and it will be fast.  I've got Rahn so I think we'll be alright."

The Texas Motorplex is the 22nd of 24 events of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and fourth of sixth in the Countdown to the Championship playoff.