Dallas Ron Capps is Mr. Consistency

Ron Capps is probably the most excited guy in the Funny Car pit area these days. After suffering through a horrible 1999 season that included three DNQs (did not qualify) and 12 first round losses, the driver of the U.S. Tobacco Camaro is back.

And he's making up for lost time. Although he hasn't won a race since 1998 in Topeka, Kan., Capps feels certain the end to his winless streak is near. The reason for his prediction: consistency.

Capps, an eight-time career winner, has posted runner-up finishes at four events this season.

"We've shown we definitely have a car capable of winning races," Capps said. "Obviously the more finals you're in, the more chances you have to win. We've kept piling up the points. The key to winning the championship is going rounds (during eliminations) on Sunday."

Indeed. Capps has posted final round appearances in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., Richmond, Va. and Atlanta. During three of those finals he faced Funny Car dominator John Force. In Florida he lost to new Funny Car championship threat Jerry Toliver, the current Winston points leader and driver of the WWF Racing Pontiac Firebird.

Still, despite his 0-4 final round record in 2000, Capps is certain a victory is near.

"There's a lot of confidence in the driver right now because the car is running well," said Capps, who won five times en route to finishing second overall in the 1998 point standings. "The crew is in a great mood because we're up there in points. It's very exciting."

Prior to the event in Englishtown, N.J., Capps was third in the Winston point standings, 61 behind leader Toliver and 31 behind second place Force. "We'll just keep plugging away," said Capps, from Carlsbad, Calif. "We're trying not to make any dumb moves. If we do that, the wins will come."