BROWNSBURG, Ind. – After 17 years and two NHRA Funny Car championships with Don Schumacher Racing, Ron Capps has announced his departure from the team.
Capps, who recently earned his second NHRA Funny Car title, made the news official in a social media post Saturday evening. He has not yet announced his plans for next year.
“Yesterday was my last day at Don Schumacher Racing,” Capps said in his post on Facebook. “It’s been an incredible 17 years. I went there to join my buddy (Gary) Scelzi and have had the best teammates and sponsors throughout the years i could ever ask for.
“There is a lot of NHRA Wally’s scattered throughout the house and we’ve raised a lot of NHRA championship banners up at the DSR shop. The best part, though, without question has been the people I’ve been lucky enough to be around for the last 17 years.
“From Don Schumacher and his wonderful family, management, our great people at the track with us, the front office group, the hospitality people, the fab shop and of course all the team members past and present and their families, thank you everyone at DSR for an incredible ride.”
The 56-year-old native of California has been competing in the NHRA for nearly 30 years. He made his professional debut in 1995 in Top Fuel competition, earning his first victory that same season.
He made the switch to Funny Car shortly thereafter and in 2005 he joined Don Schumacher Racing. During his Funny Car career Capps has earned 68 victories to go along with his two championships, which came this year and in 2016.
Capps is the latest competitor to announce his departure from Don Schumacher Racing. Antron Brown, a three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, previously announced he would leave the team to form his own Top Fuel operation. Three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan and Top Fuel winner Leah Pruett are also departing the team to join the new Tony Stewart Racing NHRA program.
The only confirmed NHRA program at Don Schumacher Racing next year is for team owner Don Schumacher’s son, eight-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, who is returning to full-time status after racing sporadically since the 2019 season.