How Roger Penske's Attention to Detail Rubs Off on NHRA Champion Ron Capps

• The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is in Sonoma, California this weekend for the second leg of the famed Western Swing.

• Autoweek insider Ron Capps, the newest driver/owner in the Funny Car division is halfway through his first season with the new team.

• Capps, the 2016 and 2021 champion, is third in the points championship in his bid for a third NHRA Funny Car title.

Let's see, it's the halfway point of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season. As Ron Capps the team owner, if i were going to hand out a mid-term grade, I'd give Ron Capps the driver a 'B'.

Funny Car is so tough right now. At Phoenix, I let the ownership part in my mind get involved with the driver part. I've heard other driver/owners talk about the same thing. I let that get into my head, and I think it cost us the race. We had the car that weekend to win the whole thing. It's happened a few times.

Giving someone an 'A' in a Funny Car division is pretty stout, because of the competition everybody's doing. A 'B' is a pretty good grade. If I was Ron the owner—which I am—and Ron the driver was my hired driver—which he is—I'd be very happy with that driver, giving him a 'B.'

Now, if Ron the driver was to give Ron the new owner a midseason grade, I'd say it would be pretty good, too.

To be able to say that we've visited the winner's circle twice already is obviously something you dream of an owner in the first year. My buddy, Antron Brown—he's also a first year driver/owner—and he can't buy luck right now.

When I first sat down as an owner, I thought okay, worst-case scenario, we struggle here and there, right. You hopefully qualify for every race, but you try to think of worst-case scenario and not count on any race-win money coning in and things like that. So, to get that first win, obviously, that's the monkey off the back. And then to get the second win, and be third in the points, and be within striking distance with five races left to get the points lead before the Countdown Playoffs—that's what you dream about at the beginning of the season.

I've got to admit that it's fun to walk into the pit area, hear the rock-and-roll playing on the stereo. The guys are loose and they're having a good time. And that just translates into good karma. You can tell they enjoy what they're doing and the car shows it—it just goes out there and hauls ass.

So, the owner side of me is very happy.

The Penske, Prudhomme Factor