Capps goes out early at the Sooner Nationals in Tulsa
TULSA, post-race: Jon Capps says that he learns something new every time he gets behind the wheel of a 7,000 horsepower Nitro Funny Car. Chalk up another lesson learned for Capps after this weekends IHRA event in Oklahoma .
The driver of the Vegas Fuel Funny Car was defeated in the first round at the postponed running of the IHRA Skull Shine Sooner Nationals at Tulsa Raceway Park in a race he probably should have won.
Capps qualified No. 1 with a 5.051 at 300.60 mph before rain delayed the running of eliminations for almost a month. His opening round opponent was Jack Wyatt, who has defeated Capps twice this season, including the final round at the previous race in Rockingham, and the Vegas Fuel driver was eager to return the favor.
The Paul Smith-tuned Vegas Fuel Monte Carlo took the lead just off the starting line and was pulling away until the car started spinning the tires. Wyatt drove around Capps at the top end to take the victory with a 5.359 at 261.17 mph, just enough to hold off Capps' 5.537 at 196.24 mph.
"It was a rookie mistake," Capps honestly admitted following the race. "I went out there and I didn't see him and the car was running good and it started spinning the tires just past half-track and I got out of the throttle. It was an instinct that I have had engraved in my head for so long because of the times in the past when I was trying not to do the wrong thing and trying to save parts.
"It's something that looking back on, I knew why I did what I did," continued Capps. "Bottom line is I was thinking too much. On Sunday I need to not necessarily think so much about saving parts and do the right thing and do what I feel is right. Now I have a different thought in my head about what the right thing is to do in that situation."
Capps left the Sooner Nationals with low elapsed time (5.051) and top speed (304.50 mph) of the meet and also collected his second No. 1 qualifying honor of the season. He remains third in the Knoll Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam Pro Funny Car standings but is still searching for that elusive first career victory.
