Current Funny Car champion Ron Capps has had time to sift through the advice from fellow owner-drivers – not that he hadn’t considered all the challenges already before deciding to leave his comfort zone and operate his own team.

He admitted that he isn’t “sure yet if it’ll be something where it’s hard to take the ‘owner’ hat off and then switch fully into ‘driver’ mode.” But he said he’s “looking forward to seeing how I handle and adapt to all of that.”

He got a sneak peek at what it will be like Thursday, during the opening day of the PRO-organized Nitro Spring Training for NHRA racers at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park at Chandler, Ariz., just south of Phoenix.

Some aspects of his “new normal” – such as his Dean Antonelli/John Medlen-led NAPA Auto Parts crew following him into his venture – offered a relief.

The time crunch did not. 

“I would say the biggest adjustment so far has been having to get a lot done in a very short period of time,” Capps said. “Usually, for us drivers, you get a little time off after the NHRA Finals, and then you’ll fly out for a photoshoot here and there, PRI, and you’ll do all of the sponsor-activation stuff in the off-season to get ready for the following season. But this year, with assembling a new operation, it’s a whole different ballgame. You’ve got to get the team set up with payroll, insurance, things like that. Trying to get all of the small details taken care of in such a short amount of time is so crucial, because not only do decisions need to be made and approvals need to be had, but you’ve got to make sure things such as crew uniforms, team merchandise for the midway, and all of those sorts of things are ordered in time to be ready by your Pomona deadline. Thankfully, I have a lot of people around me that have helped me a lot, but that was probably the biggest eye-opener in this whole process.”

John Force said, “I knew Capps when he was a kid – he’s still a kid, to me – and I saw him chasin’ that dream. And I said, ‘When you dreamed of being your own owner, did you ever think there’s something that comes with it: a lot of work?’ When you’re a hired gun, you get in the car, you go do the appearances, and you think you work.

“I want to congratulate Capps for steppin’ up to the plate and takin’ it on. It’s going to be tough for a couple of years. He’s got the money from great sponsors. He’s got the money to race. He’ll be able to win. That ain’t the problem. The problem is taking on that load,” Force said. “But let me tell you something: I know Ron Capps. And let me tell you something: “If you can handle Don Schumacher, you can handle some sponsors. Don’s a real businessman, and Capps has survived with him most of his career, after leaving Prudhomme.”

The 16-time champion said, “Capps is going to make it. He’s going to be fine. He’s got people he can turn to. And he’s got the best teacher in the world, Don Schumacher. Don will be there for him.”

Capps said, “I know that it won’t be without its challenges. There will be those moments or those weekends where something will go wrong. I’m not looking forward to that. Having to put fires out here and there, things you hear about from other team owners, those are things I’m not looking forward to, but obviously no matter what happens, the good and the bad, at the end of the day, I know I’ll be able to look back and say, ‘It’s ours.’ And, I’ve got to give so much credit to my wife, Shelley, and all that she’s taken on with all of the employees.
 
“I know that by far, all of the good will outweigh the bad,” he said, “and it’s just nice to know that I have a little more control over my own destiny. Obviously, I’m taking on a lot more responsibility, but with that, I’m sure there will be more gratification.”

He and former Don Schumacher Racing colleague Antron Brown, who started his own Top Fuel team this season, bounce ideas off each other and speak the same language.

Capps said they “were talking about the craziness with all of the off-season things you never think about, with the payroll, taxes, insurance, and just things like that. And we laughed about how at the end of the year, we’ll look back and say, ‘Man, it was so worth it.’ The gratification from winning that first race as a team owner and knowing Dean Antonelli and John Medlen and all of the NAPA Auto Parts crew and all of the hard work during the off-season that we’ve all done will all be worth it when those big moments happen. I’m proud that we pulled it all together in time, and now we get to do the fun part: race to defend our championship.”

Force won’t help Capps do that. But he did say, “I love you, Capps. If I can help you, give me a holler. I’m trying to save myself!”