Capps Likes the Challenge of Facing Top Drivers in Prelude to the Dream Race

 (NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car veteran Ron Capps will race with the top drivers in the world next week at the Prelude to the Dream dirt late model race at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Ohio. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Ron Capps, who, on “normal” race days, pilots an 8,000-horesepower, nitro methane-fueled Funny Car down a concrete-and-asphalt drag strip at upwards of 300 miles per hour, finds the challenge of driving a Late Model stock car with a bit more than 10 percent of the power around a half-mile dirt track in next week’s seventh annual Prelude to the Dream race here at the famed Eldora Speedway much more daunting.

The Ohio race participation will follow this weekend's NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J., where the Southern Californian will be behind the wheel of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
Capps, who will pilot the NAPA AUTO PARTS Late Model stocker in the June 8 Prelude to the Dream, is one of five drivers who has competed in each of the previous six events, which raises money for some of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals.

“This is the most difficult race car I have ever driven,” he said about the 850-horsepower, 2,300-pound machine.  “It challenges you. It tests every bit of your concentration, manhood and courage when going into turn three – with Jimmie Johnson on your inside and Tony Stewart on your outside – to keep your foot in the throttle.”

The event was Stewart’s brainchild for an all-star race to raise awareness and funds for charity. The 24-invited drivers from NASCAR, NHRA, Indy Car and other premier series are divided into four teams representing Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Levine Children’s Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital. The winning team’s hospital receives 30 percent of the event’s television subscriptions, second place 25 percent and 20 percent to the third and fourth-place teams.

The race will be broadcast at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT Wednesday, June 8 on pay-per view (produced by HBO), with a replay immediately following the live presentation.

“It was – and remains – an honor to be invited by Tony Stewart,” explained Capps. “It’s an even greater honor to race with such great drivers. I really have a blast!

“People wonder why I do other kinds of racing beyond drag racing, well – in this case, being invited by Tony Stewart was enough reason to come the first time. In addition, growing up, I always had an infatuation with dirt racing and getting into a race where none of us do this kind of driving on a regular basis is a thrill.

“That all being said, it’s a great way to raise money for these hospitals and to help kids all over the country!”