Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Just heard Ralph Capitini past away, not sure if its true?

R.I.P. Cappy.  Thanks for all you did for Knoxville Raceway;  Knoxville, Iowa and Sprint Car Racing in General !!!!   

No official announcement that I can find yet, but I have seen a couple of confirming tweets by people who would know better than to spread false info.

He was one of the best RIP

nationel sprint car hall of fame just annouced it

Story on web site for Speed Sport News.     R.I.P. Cappy

He was a teacher of mine in high school and a football coach to my dad. I always enjoyed him around the track as a fan and vendor. I was luck enough to play many rounds of golf with him at Pine Knolls. RIP Cappy.

Driver Ed teacher if I heard right?

Western Civilization/World history. Very tough class under Cappy.

One hell of a show about to go down on the golden speedway in the sky. I can only imagine the conversation going on between Earl, Ted Johnson, Lanny Edwards and now unfortunately, Cappy as well. Very few meant more to our sport then Cappy has. Knoxville is the undisputed capital of sprint car racing and the work he did there is a huge reason that it is what it has become today. Thanks for all you've done for our sport. Rest in peace Cappy. You will be missed

So sorry to hear this! The sprint world lost a quality guy! I will miss seeing him around the Marion County Fairgrounds. RIP, you were a great one.

Never met the man but the quality of the Knoxville facility speaks volumes.  Sort of jealous actually as Williamsgrove should be our capitol but doesn't come close.

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

I was fortunate enough to grow up in Knoxville and had Cappy as a teacher. I remember he would wear his winter gloves in class and almost always had a coffee in his hand. Couple of my favorite memories of Cappy are: 1) When I was younger and a lot dumber we were partying in the Skate Pit after the queens contest and we were getting pretty rowdy. Cappy came in and told me what we were doing pissed him off. I was kinda shocked by that and asked him why. He gave me his patented grin and said "cuz I can't party like that anymore!" 2) When they announced that the 50th nationals was going to be 50 laps there was all kinds of feelings about it, some good and some really bad. I wasn't a big fan of the idea but I was sure they had a reason for it. So I called the ticket office and talked to him. He spent about 30 minutes answering my questions and explaining his side of the story. And asked me questions on what I thought could be different. I gained a ton of respect for him that day, not many promoters would have spent the time to do that. 

Cappy has done as much, if not more, for the sport I love than anyone ever has. He will be greatly missed but we will get to enjoy his dedication for many years. Many of the things we take for granted at the Knoxville Raceway are because of his hard work and dedication. Thanks Cappy, God speed!

I didn't know Cappy personally but am grateful what he's done for sprint car racing, and the track I visit weekly during the summer. He's a major reason why we are so spoiled with the weekly racing, and big shows at Knoxville. 

The Cappy Classic, will have extra special meaning this year. 

RIP

Keep It Real

Cappy was the best at so many things I couldn't make a proper list.  He took care of me and my booth for more than a decade at Knoxville and not just during the Nationals.  He once stood close by when Ted Johnson and I got into a heated argument about me selling photos at Knoxville of 'his' drivers and argument that ended when I said that most of his guys were running my sticker and they enjoyed the 'free' photos and not one driver EVER complained to me.  When Ted walked away in a huff Cappy walked over and said, "You're here as long as I'm here"....

He wasn't a man of many words but what he said always seemed to be the right thing, heard very few negative things about him over the years because he stuck to his word whether it was the popular thought or not.  RIP Mr. Capitani, you will be missed by many......

I am very thankful that Cappy was at the helm of Knoxville Raceway before and during all of my visits there. His wisdom and patience have gotten the raceway a long way and has built a foundation that should get it a long way down the road. Rest in peace sir! (Chris Lovett)

I didn't know him, but I respected him greatly. 

Knoxvile is a lovely place, but it's not exactly the center of commerce. For Cappy to build the biggest dirt race in the world in a town that has 8,000 people and struggles to keep fast food joints open is an incredible achievement. 

The first time I went to interview Cappy was just before my first year covering weekly racing at Knoxville in 2002.  It was one of only 2 times in my career that I was truly nervous to interview anyone.  I had heard about Cappy and was semi new to winged sprint car racing.  As a sat down in his office I told him I was a bit nervous and to bear with me.  He said "Why be nervous, I'm the same person here as I am away from the track."  That eased me a little.  Long story short, the interview went well and we talked for about 15 minutes before and after and he provided great information.  When he retired I brought up that moment, he said he knew I was a bit inexprienced in racing but thought I would do OK.  I always appreaciated Cappy allowing KNIA/KRLS to cover not only weekly racing, but also the Nationals.  Every time I drive into the infield I consider myself one of the luckiest radio announcers in the world to cover racing from the Knoxville Raceway.  Cappy never took credit, but he along with Ray Grimes saved not only the Nationals but the Knoxville Raceway.

I grew up in Sioux Falls, SD and attended Knoxville Raceway frequently. 7 years ago I moved 2,000 miles west to Santa Cruz, CA. I didn't know anybody except for my wife and her best friend. On my oldest sons first day of day care we sent him in a sprint car t-shirt and he told his nearly 70 year old teacher about our upcoming trip to The Nationals. Turns out she grew up on a farm 3 miles from Knoxville, IA and Cappy was one of her high school teachers. I was surprised to say the least. If any of you have ever been to Santa Cruz, CA, you would know that it's vastly different in every way from rural America, yet I was able to meet somebody from Knoxville, IA that new Ralph Capitani, and not only knew him but to this day has spoken highly of him. RIP Cappy, your reach is great.