In year one as a team owner/driver Ron Capps everything has exceeded expectations.

Capps, the reigning NHRA nitro Funny Car world champion, is third in the points standings after a second-round loss to Bob Tasca III at the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., outside of Denver.

Although Capps was unable to make it in the winner’s circle at Bandimere Speedway he was still gushing about the work of his team.

“Every race has been unique because this was the first time visiting (Bandimere) as a team owner, which is awesome,” Capps said. “When I talked in the offseason about what lied ahead with so much more on my plate anyway and having the good people around us this is the race I always looked at. You can’t come here without good personnel, especially crew chiefs and crew members. You have to have the best of the best or otherwise you will look like a fool. First, if you don’t have a savvy crew chief who can adapt to these conditions. 

“Also, you need to be able to get down off the mountain without being hurt too bad parts-wise. In the offseason, it made me feel so much better having Guido (Dean Antonelli) and John Medlen and our guys because this is what is all about. And you take it a step further, we go from up here (in Denver) and then we go directly to the best air conditions (in Sonoma, Calif., July 22-24) from the worst. You talk about adaptability, that’s what you have to have.”

Capps’ first season as owner/driver has been highlighted by two wins in Las Vegas and Bristol, Tenn., and a runner-up effort in Pomona, Calif., to begin the season.

“Listen I had the success and relationship with NAPA because of what we do off the racetrack, but you certainly need to have success on the racetrack, right?” Capps said. “These kids and people ask about sponsors and things like that, and I always tell them it is not just what you do on the track. 

“Winning is great, but when I get a teammate like Chase Elliott, who is successful as he is in NASCAR and my teammate with NAPA. You have to have the great success on the track. I hoped and prayed that we would, but I didn’t think we would hit the ground running as well as we did. It is not surprising to me, but it makes things a lot nicer.”

Capps also believes he has grand opportunity to repeat as the world champ.

“It is nice to not just hope that you can win it,” Capps said. “There are a lot of teams where you hope, and you dream about it (a world championship). To know that you really chance of doing that is a pretty cool thing. We unloaded the very first race (this season) and we were No. 1 qualifier and went to the final round and almost won the race. We gave Robert Hight a real run for his money. I couldn’t ask for anything better and who knows what’s going to happen in the Countdown (the final six races of the season). It is going to be another crazy Funny Car year, but the fact we have a great chance of winning a championship is great.”