I

f there’s one aspect championship team owner/driver has mastered in his first year of the dual role is the importance of being flexible and learning how to adapt. But this time, the challenge plays into his hands. 

And it’s nothing more than a change in the NHRA schedule. 

Now, the first four races of the season will be the Gatornationals, the Arizona Nationals (March 24-26) in Phoenix, the Winternationals (March 30-April 2), and the Four-Wide Nationals (March 14-16) in Las Vegas.

Since 2012, the NHRA schedule was Pomona, Phoenix, Gainesville, and Las Vegas to start the season.

The new-look slate in 2023 is something NHRA reigning nitro Funny Car world champ driver and team owner Ron Capps likes – a lot.

“Yeah, it’s a lot different, and everything’s different,” Capps said. “Obviously, this is my really first year owning my own trucks and trailers, actually. So, the fuel part of it and NHRA finally making that switch because for years and years, NHRA teams and owners have questioned us doing Pomona, Phoenix, and then going across the country to Florida, then back across the country to Vegas. So that was supposed to be the big reason for this. And then having a little mini–West Coast swing, if you will, with Phoenix, Pomona, and Vegas. From an owner perspective, I’m ecstatic about that.”

Capps also was thrilled to see NHRA is having an open test session at Gainesville Raceway March 6-8.

“The fact the official test session will be right there at Gainesville on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the same track we start is another huge, huge bonus obviously looking at it as an owner,” Capps said. “Plus, the teams, they can just go set up where we will be at. We’ve always...  (We were in) West Palm Beach (Fla.), and then hauled the mail across the country to Pomona or Phoenix, and then left our stuff there and then had guys fly back in and drive to Pomona. So, the dynamic is definitely different. From a normal standpoint, not starting in Pomona is going to be a little strange, but I think there’s no negatives. I mean, the weather’s been so iffy at times in February, so I think, knock on wood, but I think it being later that’s going to be a bonus.

“There’s been times where it was too cold, actually physically raining and too cold in Pomona. I think it’s going to be fun, and yeah, I think it’s all a good thing (not being the first race of the season).”

Capps also took a moment to discuss the craziness of how 2022 unfolded, which saw him end up as a world champion driver and owner in his inaugural season as an owner.

“This offseason looking back at my notes of all the stuff that I was going through, and I made a lot of notes, it almost gave me the shivers sometimes because it took me back to how stressed and all the anxiety I had last year,” Capps said. “But this year, Guido (crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli) is in full Guido mode. I mean, obviously, we lost (John) Medlen (who retired), so all the guys are learning new things, and Guido relishes his team guys, obviously, as do I. But he loves the fact he gets to train a couple of guys who are going to move positions and all that. So that part’s been pretty fun.”

“It sort of sunk in (being the reigning world champion owner/driver), but honestly, it’s like when somebody asks about it or mentions it, it’s a reminder because it’s harder to believe what really went down for me at times, how crazy that was.”

Capps said he and his team will not make any test laps until the week of the season opener in Gainesville. However, he has been paying attention to what other teams are doing in the offseason.

“I saw the numbers that the guys were throwing up last weekend (in Gainesville),” Capps said. “Obviously (Robert Hight’s crew chief) Jimmy Prock came out swinging. The DHL car hauled a** down there, so they’re obviously going to be in it, and (Tim) Wilkerson’s going to be part of it, and Guido and Tim talk a lot before anyway; they were always tight, and their combinations are close. So having Tim with that kind of budget (Wilkerson partnered to create Maynard Wilkerson Racing (MWR) in the offseason), it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch what he can do. And so yeah, it’s weird, man. Every year, even when I didn’t win the championship, it’s like you’re so motivated to go out swinging right off the bat, which obviously Hight’s team has already.

“So, we all know all know the usual suspects, and it’s going to be what it is.”

This weekend, Capps is going to be plenty busy, but it is not going to be drag racing as he headed to Daytona, Fla.

“It’s going to be fun Toyota stuff,” Capps said. “Going to do some TV with Fox.”

The Bluegreen Vacations duel 2 is at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16. The Nextera Energy 250 Craftsman Truck Series race is on Feb. 17 in Daytona.

“We will be doing some TV stuff during those races,” Capps said. “I’m not sure what they’re doing with us, but (Steve) Torrence is coming in to meet me, and we’re going to do some autographs at the Toyota area and do some other Toyota stuff. I mean, we’re the first Toyota GR Supra world champion. That’s kind of fun, so I’m enjoying that part of it. Obviously, Toyota’s pretty involved in NASCAR, so getting to hang out with a lot of our NASCAR Toyota family drivers over there. It’s going to be a lot of fun. We will do the duel race Thursday and the Truck race Friday. I will be flying back home on Saturday.”

Capps said he’s getting anxious for the 2023 NHRA to get underway.

“The guys are getting close in Indy,” Capps said. “We talk every day, obviously the test session the other day with JR (Todd) and Hight’s team, and seeing their numbers, they got my blood going. It’s time to get ready.”