Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Prudhomme fires crew chief on Capps’ Funny Car

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Todd Okuhara will serve as interim crew chief on Ron Capps' Skoal Green Racing Funny Car after team owner Don Prudhomme relieved Ed McCulloch of his duties as chief tuner this week.

Okuhara was Capps' crew chief before McCulloch joined the team for the final race of the 1999 season. Okuhara served as assistant crew chief under McCulloch.

"I wish Ed the best of luck in the future," Prudhomme said in a release announcing the change. "However, right now our main focus is to restore consistency and competitiveness to the Skoal Green team.

"Ron has done an excellent job driving no matter what the circumstances. Now it is our job to give him a better horse to ride as we try to win races and work toward capturing our first NHRA Powerade Funny Car championship."

Prudhomme said Okuhara will serve in an interim capacity while the team evaluates Okuhara, and also would "consider other opportunities" before officially naming a new crew chief for Capps.

Capps advanced to the semifinals at the season-opening race in Pomona, Calif., and won the second event of the season at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Since his victory, Capps has advanced to only one final, at Englishtown, N.J., in May and had three first-round losses on the three-race "Western Swing" that concluded Sunday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Capps is sixth in the NHRA Funny Car standings after 15 of 23 races.

"It's pretty incredible," Scelzi said following his first victory in Don Schumacher's Oakley Time Bomb Dodge Stratus. "This is the whole reason why I race -- to win. I didn't want to drive just any car; I wanted to drive a car that I felt was capable of winning, with equipment that was capable of winning and I really wanted to be with Don Schumacher Racing."

Dixon has won eight races this season and increased his lead to 310 points over Doug Kalitta in the Top Fuel standings.

"I'm impressed with my guys and (crew chief) Dick LaHaie," Dixon said. "He calls all the shots and has the car prepared exactly how he wants it. I'm in awe; I've never won three races (in a row) and to do it on this deal is huge.

"I go home and look at all the trophies, put them on the shelf and that's when you realize what's going on. My dad raced his whole life and only received one win. It makes me really proud of what we're doing. It's not a one-man show -- it's everyone -- and I'm just really proud to be a part of it."

Dixon joined Joe Amato (1991), John Force (1994), and Cory McClenathan (1997) as the only drivers to sweep the three-race "Western Swing."

Beswick, 73, suffered serious burns following an exhibition pass at Mid-America Dragway in Wentzville. An explosion and subsequent fire in Beswick's car after making a run resulted in burns to his hands, ankles and face.

A spokesman for Pontiac said Beswick's vital signs are normal and X-rays of his lungs showed minimal to no damage.

Beswick, who started his racing career in 1958, is a member of the NHRA Division 3 Hall of Fame as well as the Super Stock, A/FX and Funny Car Hall of Fame.

There will be no increase in admission or entry fees ($10 to race and $5 for spectators) for the extended program.