It only took Ron Capps five seconds to realize this was not the Kentucky Derby confines of his NHRA program, but instead, the rodeo version with a wild bucking bronco in the form of a fuel altered. 

The last time Capps was behind the wheel of a fuel altered was 2020, the year he won the Fuel Altered division at the March Meet, the last event before the pandemic hit. 

It didn't take Capps long to get reacquainted during his practice runs on Thursday at the Good Vibrations March Meet.

"These cars are so different from the big show cars that it takes a little bit of getting used to, and things are in a different place, but it is a fuel altered, and it quickly reminds you that it's a fuel altered," Capps said. "It's got zero downforce and a short wheelbase and just a lot of fun."

Capps is running a new fuel altered, honoring the legendary Burkholder Brothers Fiat. Previously, the original Burkholder car was used for Cacklefest events only.

The new car, Capps said, takes the experience to a whole new level. 

"I can't believe I'm driving this car first of all," Capps admitted. "Harry Burkholder's up there. It's an unbelievable feeling that I had a poster of this car on my wall as a kid. 

"They put it period correct, same colors, just such a beautiful car."

Building this car appears to be perfect timing for a Fuel Altered resurgence. 

"This fuel altered class growing and growing and growing, it's an eight-car show, and I think there's over 15 cars here," Capps explained. "The Pure Hell car is here, Randy Bradford. I just talked to him. It's a dream for me even to drive, let alone the Burkholder cars, so it was nice to make a checkout run Thursday." 

On that checkout run, Capps admits the pucker factor was significant.

"One to 10, It's like a 14 at all times even when it's going well," Capps said.

Thank goodness for veteran journeyman James Day, who was able to make some test runs in the car for Capps while he was racing at the recently-completed NHRA Arizona Nationals. 

"He went, I think as the fastest speed ever in an altered, it was over 240 miles an hour," Capps said. So he set the precedence, and it was a great test session. It really made me feel a little bit better coming here, knowing he made a lap in this thing, but Bill Windham did a great job of putting his thing together. It went right up there and went right down the track, so really excited about it."

Now that Capps is a team owner, does he see having a fuel altered of his own in the cards?"

"It's like a boat. I don't want to own one; I just want to drive somebody else's," Capps surmised.