Ron Capps Hopes to Continue NHRA Funny Car Success With Dean Antonelli, John Medlen
Veteran tuners picked to replace retired Rahn Tobler on Don Schumacher Racing entry. Bob Johnson
Don Schumacher Racing is going with a tag-team of sorts to replace recently retired crew chief Rahn Tobler on the NAPA Dodge SRT Hellcat in 2021.
DSR announced late Thursday that veteran tuners John Medlen and Dean Guido Antonelli will team to call the shots for Ron Capps Funny Car in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series this season. Both Medlen and Antonelli have long histories in the sport and with Don Schumacher Racing.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
The news that racing executive Beth Paretta is going to take a run at the 2021 Indy 500 with a women-led team brings a sense of déjà vu: Indeed Paretta has done this before. She previously headed Grace Autosport, attempting to qualify Katherine Legge for the 2016 Indianapolis 500. Paretta pulled the plug just a few weeks before the green flag that year. We got a hold of Paretta to find out how the 2021 Paretta Autosport effort came about and why this time things are going to be different.
For one thing, the group plans to have 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro drive the team’s Chevrolet-powered car this year. Also, this time none other than Roger Penske is involved.
4-Time NHRA Champion Crew Chief Rahn Tobler Retiring from Don Schumacher Racing The 66-year-old Tobler has captained Ron Capps NAPA Auto Parts SRT Hellcat Funny Car team since 2012. John Shanks/Auto Imagery
Rahn Tobler, 66, has won 70 national NHRA events and four championships in a career that dates back to 1971.
Tobler won a pair of Top Fuel titles with driver Shirley Muldowney and Funny Car crowns with both Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps.
Tobler and Capps have been together at Don Schumacher Racing since 2012.
Four-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series champion crew chief Rahn Tobler is calling it a career.