BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Ron Capps Motorsports officials have announced that it has added CHE Precision Inc. to its growing list of backers, with the Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based manufacturer joining the team as the official high-performance valve train component supplier of Capps’ 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car.
Crew chiefs Dean Antonelli and John Medlen have relied on CHE Precision Inc. valve train components for 20 years. As they embark on this new chapter with Capps as he ventures into the world of team ownership, they have the unique advantage of being able to hand-select which companies they would like to work with as they help to refine Capps’ new Funny Car team.
“Valve train components are crucial elements of any high-performance engine, let alone a nitromethane-burning fuel engine” explained Antonelli, a key player in the NAPA Auto Parts team’s NHRA Camping World Series championship campaign. “If you have anything fail in the valve train, it usually results in an explosion so it’s of the utmost importance to use the highest-quality, most-refined machined components available. John Medlen and I have worked with CHE and their staff for decades. We both have machining backgrounds, so we understand the importance of securing the best components.”
“The fans see it on the race track, but I’ve been around this sport long enough to know that the success starts with all of the hard work that our team puts in at the shop and the late nights in the machine shop, planning how to get better,” said Capps of the behind-the-scenes dedication that translates into finishing in the winner’s circle on Sundays. “I couldn’t imagine going to the starting line without the support and the components from CHE. There are reasons you win championships, and they’re a major part of that, and I’m thrilled they will be joining our team in 2022.”
While CHE Precision Inc. is a well-known name throughout the pits, with most of the top-ranked teams having relied on their products for many years, next season will mark the first time their NHRA involvement will be in the form of an official sponsorship of a nitro team. CHE will be along for the ride as the reigning Funny Car champion attempts to go back-to-back in capturing consecutive titles, with Capps pursuing his third overall (2016, ’21), and first as a team owner.
“We’ve been a fixture in the NHRA pro pits for many years, but more as a behind-the-scenes supporter,” explained Charlie Holguin, owner of CHE Precision Inc. “This will be our first time joining one of the nitro teams in an official capacity, and who better to do that with than Ron Capps and the NAPA team, the defending champions. We’re a family-owned company that is built on strong relationships, and we know that Ron, ‘Guido,’ and John Medlen share those same values. CHE has been in business for over 35 years, and we look forward to playing a key role in the success of Ron Capps Motorsports in its debut season and beyond, and are already looking toward the future as to how we can continue to grow with what is sure to be a powerhouse organization in the drag racing industry.”