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years and be successful , and it feels like the right time to take this next step .”

Other than ownership , not much will change for Capps as his entire championship-winning team will remain intact , including co-crew chiefs John Medlen and Dean “ Guido ” Antonelli . NAPA Auto Parts will continue as the team ’ s primary sponsor . Ron Capps Motorsports will continue operating out of Don Schumacher Racing ’ s headquarters in Brownsburg , Indiana .

3 . Antron Brown ’ s AB Motorsports and Justin Ashley Join Forces

■ One of the biggest move-makers this offseason has been 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley , who announced a strategic alliance with three-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown and his new AB Motorsports team . With Brown breaking away from Don Schumacher Racing ’ s multi-car operation to form his own team , he decided to partner with Ashley , a longtime friend of Brown and his team . The two

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teams will share R & D and marketing resources .

“ The goal with this partnership is to make both of our programs stronger overall ,” Brown explained . “ Even though we ’ re two separate teams with two separate operations , having this partnership will allow us to enjoy some of the advantages that the multi-car teams have . It ’ s not just about the collaboration between our brain trust of crew chiefs , but this will also help us in being able to secure the best parts and pieces ; we ’ ll have stronger purchasing power . We ’ re both looking to this alliance to help us compete on a high level , and go toe-to-toe with the heavy-hitters in our category .”

On the sponsorship front , Ashley also secured a new partnership with Phillips Connect , a company specializing in semi-trailer tracking technology . The company will serve as Ashley ’ s primary sponsor at the first three races of the season . Meanwhile , Brown announced Lucas Oil as his official lubricant partner , marking the company ’ s return to full-time nitro racing .

Brown ’ s longstanding relationship with cocrew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald will continue at AB Motorsports , and most of his team

4 also made the move . They ’ ll continue working out of the DSR shop .

Ashley goes into the season with championship tuner Mike Green leading the charge on his Davis Motorsports Top Fuel dragster , though the team has also added Tommy DeLago . He joins the team in an official capacity after working with them as a consultant at the end of the 2021 season .

4 . Jim Yates to Tune and Coach NHRA Pro Stock Rookie Camrie Caruso

■ Another major news moment at the PRI Show was the crew chief announcement for NHRA Pro Stock rookie Camrie Caruso . She joined her new crew chief , Jim Yates , on the NHRA stage to talk about Yates joining Caruso Family Racing for the 2022 season .

“ I am thrilled to have Jim Yates as my crew chief for my rookie season ,” Caruso said . “ We have a strong team and Jim ’ s years of experience will only make us stronger . Having a crew chief that has driven as well as tuned these race cars is a huge advantage and one that I am looking forward to taking full advantage of starting at the Winternationals .”

Yates won back-to-back NHRA Pro Stock world championships in the mid-1990s before retiring as a driver in 2009 . He ’ s since used his expertise in the class as a crew chief and consultant with various teams .

“ I want to bring my knowledge and experience to this team to make them the best they can be ,” Yates said . “ I have worked with a variety of drivers with differing experience levels and it helps to have that background . Working with that variety of drivers and also having the experience with a diverse number of power packages is really important to a start-up team , in my opinion .”

Caruso will make her debut at the NHRA Winternationals driving the Titan Racing Enginespowered Powerbuilt Tools Camaro .

42 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 174