Full Throttle

Sub-titled: “A Legend Continues.”

Ron Capps long time NHRA standout and current driver of the Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing is an announced participant in Eldora Speedway’s Nextel Prelude to the Dream to be held Wednesday night, June 8.

Track owner and NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Tony Stewart (occasionally known as “Mr. Clean“), will be competing against Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Dave Blaney, Kenny Schrader, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Green, Danny Lasoski, Ron Capps, Mike Wallace and Red Farmer.

My main source of enjoyment in this is two-fold. Ron Capps and the legendary Red Farmer.

Capps has been Top Fuel and Funny Car competitor since joining the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in 1995. As far as I know he has never raced on an oval track, much less a dirt one. The venerable old 1/2 mile dirt speedway should prove an interesting challenge for him. Can Capps turn left? In fact can he “go straight” on dirt, without a bleach box?

What can you say about Red Farmer, he is a member of the International MotorSports Hall of Fame, the Stock Car Hall of Fame and at 76 years young still competes. As recently as August ‘04 he finished 5th in the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 ARCA race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

An original member of the “Alabama Gang” along with the Allison Brothers and the late Neil Bonnett, Farmer first competed in NASCAR in 1953 on the old “beach circuit” in Daytona. Red won three consecutive NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division championships from 1969-71.

Prediction? By hook, crook, or someone’s stupid move Capps won’t finish last. And Red will place in the top five. Bet on it.

Thanks to Josh of Fast Machines for pointing me in this stories direction.

UPDATE: Via MotorSports Blog this qoute from Ron Capps. “I grew up loving dirt racing, so Eldora is kind of the holy grail of dirt tracks,” said Capps, who is sixth in NHRA Funny Car points after nine races.

“It’s one of the, if not the most, prestigious dirt tracks in the country. This event is kind of like an IROC race, because they’re all identical dirt cars. And, as a drag racer, to be invited to race with the likes of Harvick, Kenseth, Stewart and Kyle Petty, and even the legendary Red Farmer, is quite an honor. Racing against them will be a great experience.”