CAPPS TALKS ABOUT D-WILK'S CRASH

Funny Car driver Ron Capps didn't witness Daniel Wilkerson's horrific accident in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Midsouth Nationals but he heard all about it.
capps_1
ESPN2

Capps was well out in front of Wilkerson when he lost his wheels and tires and struck the retaining wall behind him.

"It was an incredible run because mine shook the tires and I had to give it a quick pedal, and when I did so the front end lifted up and it kind of planted me back in the seat. At the same time, I see Daniel out my window. He kind of popped out my window a little bit.

Funny Car driver Ron Capps didn't witness Daniel Wilkerson's horrific accident in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Midsouth Nationals but he heard all about it.
capps_1
ESPN2

Capps was well out in front of Wilkerson when he lost his wheels and tires and struck the retaining wall behind him.

"It was an incredible run because mine shook the tires and I had to give it a quick pedal, and when I did so the front end lifted up and it kind of planted me back in the seat. At the same time, I see Daniel out my window. He kind of popped out my window a little bit.

"I thought, Oh, boy, we're in trouble here. And about that time mine lit on fire. It pushed the head gasket out but it was still under power. In the corner of my eye I saw his tires with a lot of smoke for some reason which looked strange.

"All of  sudden his car fell back. I had no idea he turned in behind me. And I went down there and I was on fire. I actually called Ace on the radio and told him I was on fire at the top end. I didn't understand why they didn't get back to me on the radio and then I got to the other end of the track, the Safety Safari trucks went right by me. So, I figured something happened.

"He did a heck of a job. Once again, it's proof that Eric Medlen saved another life because had he not been wearing all the safety stuff that we wear now since Eric's accident he would have been hurt pretty bad.

"You can tell he's got his dad's genes in him. Mark Gewertz from National Dragster showed us a picture. I made sure Daniel was all right at the top end and Mark showed me a picture of his car directly behind me and it could have been so much worse. Had I not been able to pedal it and get around him I probably would have t-boned him and that would have been disastrous. Some times things just work out."

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