Capps Representing Drag Racers in Stewart's Prelude to the Dream

You'd think Ron Capps' day job driving a nitro-powered Funny Car 300 miles per hour in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) competition would be enough to satisfy his need for challenge and excitement.

"There's not a whole lot that can compare to that but when you go through Turn One at Eldora and Jeff Gordon's on your wheel or you're trading paint with Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, it pretty much rivals what we do in a Funny Car,'' said Capps, who leads the NHRA's Funny Car championship standings and is coming off his fourth win of the season Sunday in his NAPA-sponsored Dodge Charger Funny Car.

As far as Capps is concerned, Wednesday night's HBO pay-per-view all-star race, the Prelude to the Dream on the dirt high-banks of Eldora Speedway, is just as much fun for the racers as it is the fans cheering them on -- all in the name of big buck charity donations which will go to U.S. military themed charities this year.

And Capps wouldn't dream of missing out.

The event is the brainchild of two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who invites the best drivers from all racing disciplines to test themselves in 800-horsepower dirt late-model cars. No reporters in the infield, no driver entourage, just a gritty, pedal-to-the-floor, dirt-flying, commercial-free good time with nothing but egos on the line.



In the first four years of the race, Stewart has raised more than $2 million for children's charities -- primarily The Petty family's Victory Junction Gang Camps. This year the money raised through HBO's pay-per-view will go to four different military organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront and The Fisher House.

And with a Who's Who of Racing lineup featuring Stewart, Capps, four-time NASCAR champ Gordon, three-time defending Cup champ Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch among others, it's likely the pay-per-view subscriptions -- and ultimately the charitable funds -- could reach an all-time high.

Stewart has never had much trouble getting his fellow racers to participate in the event. And Capps, quickly discovered this "exhibition" was as high stakes -- pride and ego -- as if it counted toward a season title.

"I realized the some of the guys were building and bringing their owns cars and then I found out these guys were testing at dirt tracks too," Capps said with a laugh.

"You talk about competition level rising. They are there to win."

Although late models on a dirt track is the polar opposite of what Capps is accustomed to, he's fared very well in his four starts with a pair of top-10 finishes including an impressive fourth place effort his second time out. And this year, he's tested a couple times himself.

"I've got to represent the NHRA and not look like a doofus out there," Capps said. "I'm representing drag racing and I want to make everyone proud."

"Just this week at our race in Topeka (Kan.) I had more people asking me whether I'd be going to Eldora again. The cool part is the shoulder pats from the other drivers and fans that tuned in. They love it. I love it."

The race begins at 7 PM TV and the suggested price of HBO's pay-per-view is $24.95. It is available to cable customers with a digital box on their TV, DirectTV customers and DISH Network subscribers. In some markets customers can begin ordering Monday, June 1.