Don Schumacher Racing
DSR NHRA Sonoma Post-Race Recap
Sonoma, CA – DSR Elimination Highlights:
– Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan raced to a runner-up finish on Sunday at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals
– As the Denver event champ, Hagan has now been to two consecutive final rounds, and three overall in 2021
– Pruett’s runner-up finish allowed her to move up three spots into fifth in the Top Fuel point rankings
– Antron Brown and Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps advanced to the semifinalsBrown has now visited the semifinals or beyond sixth times through the first nine races of the season, and Capps’ has advanced to the semis or beyond four times in the last five events
– All four DSR Camping World Series drivers are ranked in the ‘top five’ heading into Pomona, the final leg of the three-race Western Swing
Ron Capps No. 1 at Sonoma; Earns Third Pole in Nine Races
SONOMA, CA – Ron Capps will begin his campaign for a fifth Sonoma Raceway Wally trophy by starting from the No. 1 seed on Sunday 
morning at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. He earned his third pole of the season on the strength of his impressive 3.897-second at 328.78-mph Q1 pass, which allowed him to bank three bonus points for clocking the quickest run of the session. He went on to collect another three bonus points during Q2 on Saturday afternoon when he took his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat on a stout 3.981-second ride.
“These yellow Camping World Series hats are awesome and we’re racking them up this year with great qualifying positions,” said Capps of his 2021 class-best qualifying average which has seen him earn a starting position of fifth or better through the first nine races of the season. “That’s all race car. That’s Guido (Dean Antonelli), and (John) Medlen and our whole NAPA AutoCare team.”
While they haven’t hoisted a trophy yet this year, Capps and the NAPA team have advanced to the semifinals or better at three out of the last four races, and feel confident that they can go the distance on Sunday in Sonoma and finish their weekend in the winner’s circle.
Ron Capps Continues Dominant Qualifying Performance; Powers to Provisional Pole Friday in Sonoma
SONOMA, CA – Ron Capps rocketed to the top of the timing sheet on Friday night when he laid down an impressive 3.897-second at 328.78-
mph blast aboard the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to earn the provisional pole at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Capps and the Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli/John Medlen-led team have been dominant during qualifying throughout the first eight events of 2021, having successfully earned a ‘top five’ qualifying position, including two poles, at each Camping World Series event contested thus far. With his Friday night Q1 run under the Sonoma Raceway lights, Capps appears to be on track to continue with his trend of starting race day from the quick half of the field.
“We’ve qualified in the top five at every race this year, and that’s pretty stout,” said Capps, a native of San Luis Obispo, Calif. who upstaged a field of 19 cars to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot. “No, we haven’t gotten a Wally trophy yet, but it’s coming. We’re a win waiting to happen. I’m just lucky I get to drive this race car. I get to go up to the starting line, stand on the gas, and, knowing it’s going to be one of the fastest qualified cars almost every time, it’s a major confidence boost.”
Capps, a four-time Sonoma Nationals event winner, couldn’t think of a better place to pick up his first victory of the season than at Sonoma Raceway, a venue he considers a home track, and also one that holds a special place in his heart.
DSR Heads to Stop #2 on the Western Swing, Sonooma
Sonoma, CA – Sonoma Nationals, Noteworthy:
– NHRA Camping World Series Funny Car champion Matt Hagan enters the race weekend fresh off of a win from the pole at the Mile-High 
Nationals
– By winning Denver, Hagan has the unique opportunity to ‘sweep the Swing’ for the first time in his career. Hagan’s Denver win was his first victory at that track, and in order to have a shot at winning the 2021 trio of Western Swing races, he’ll have to accomplish that same feat this weekend – breaking through for a first Sonoma triumph
– No. 3 ranked Hagan finished as the event runner-up the last time the NHRA visited Sonoma (2019)
– Ron Capps has advanced to the semifinals or better at three out of the last four events
– Capps has a stellar 2021 qualifying record, having qualified fifth or better (including two poles) through the first eight races
– As a native of central California’s San Luis Obispo, Capps considers Sonoma Raceway to be a hometown track
– The Sonoma Nationals marks No. 2 ranked Antron Brown’s 450th NHRA national event
– Leah Pruett owns the Sonoma Raceway E.T. record, achieved when she powered to a 3.669 E.T. during qualifying in 2017
Matt Hagan Finally Conquers ‘Thunder Mountain!’
Hagan wins Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil
MORRISON, CO – After more than a decade of attempts to conquer ‘thunder mountain,’ defending NHRA Camping World Series Funny Car 
world champion Matt Hagan finally hoisted the Wally trophy at Bandimere Speedway on Sunday. Starting from the pole for the second time this season and 42nd time of his career, Hagan powered his Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye through eliminations to break through for his first coveted victory at the picturesque Morrison, Colo. venue which sits a mile above sea level. The triumph was his first of the 2021 season, the 37th of his career, and national event win No. 360 for Don Schumacher Racing, the winningest team in NHRA history.
“Man, I tell you, this mountain has chewed me up and spit me out several years in a row, and I’m just so glad to pull that win down for Dodge and SRT, and to do it behind the wheel of the Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car in front of so many passionate Dodge and Mopar fans,” said Hagan whose last win came at the 2020 season-finale, the Dodge NHRA Finals presented by Pennzoil in Las Vegas, where he secured his third NHRA Funny Car series title.
Matt Hagan No. 1 in Denver at Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil
MORRISON, CO – 2020 NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan will start from the pole for the 42nd time in his career on Sunday at 
the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Hagan qualified the Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye No. 1 on the strength of his blistering 3.966-second at 319.22-mph Friday night Q1 pass.
As a three-time Funny Car world champ, Hagan has crossed many items off of his racing bucket list, but one, in particular, has continued to elude him since he started racing professionally in 2008 – winning the Mile-High Nationals. Hagan is hopeful his No. 1 seed and lane choice advantage will help carry him to his first Bandimere Speedway triumph, and first victory of the 2021 season. Based on his impressive qualifying performance, he appears to be in prime position to close out race day at ‘thunder mountain’ with the Denver hardware in hand.
After earning three bonus points on Friday night for powering to the quickest run of the round, Hagan and the Dickie Venables-led Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat team unloaded with another stout run during Q2 on Saturday, recording a 4.007 E.T. which rewarded the 36-time race winner with another three bonus points for clocking the best run of the session.
Matt Hagan Roars to Provisional Pole at Thunder Mountain during Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals
NHRA Denver Qualifying Report
MORRISON, CO – Matt Hagan leads the Funny Car field after day one of qualifying at the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals 
presented by Pennzoil. Aboard the Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, Hagan roared through ‘thunder mountain’ in 3.966 seconds at 319.22-mph under the lights at Bandimere Speedway on Friday night.
The reigning Funny Car world champ lined up next to his DSR Dodge teammate, Ron Capps, during Q1 and the two champion drivers clocked side-by-side three-second passes resulting in Hagan being rewarded with three bonus points for his efforts, and Capps earning one bonus point for powering to the third-quickest run of the round.
“Okay, we’re back, baby, we’re back!” exclaimed an ecstatic Hagan after his Q1 performance. “Dickie Venables is putting the tune-up up here on the mountain, and the car felt great and ran great. It ran on all eight cylinders and I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
DSR Headed to Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals
Morrison, CO
– A two-time winner in eight events, No. 2 ranked Top Fuel pilot Antron Brown will be looking to ‘sweep the Swing’ for the second time in his 
career.No other Camping World Series driver has been successful in winning all three Western Swing events since Brown accomplished the challenging feat in 2009
– Leah Pruett seeks to wheel the Mopar Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster to a repeat of her 2018 Denver performance where she won her sponsor’s event from the pole
– Ron Capps has put together an impressive qualifying report card, having earned a ‘top five’ qualifying position – including two poles – through the first seven events of 2021, and is looking to break through for his first win of the year
Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan is also seeking that first elusive 2021 Wally trophy, as well as a first Bandimere Speedway triumph
DSR Team Results from NHRA Norwalk Nationals
Norwalk, OH – DSR Elimination Highlights:
– Starting from the pole for the second time in 2021, Ron Capps advanced to the semifinals and moved up one spot to fifth in the Funny Car point standings
– No. 2 ranked Top Fuel pilot Antron Brown raced to his fifth semifinal appearance of the season at Matco Tools’ home track
– Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett earned a bid to the quarterfinals, with Pruett moving up two positions on the Top Fuel leaderboard
Driver Information:
Top Fuel:
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of the Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Ron Capps Clinches Pole Position at Norwalk
NORWALK, OH – DSR Funny Car pilot Ron Capps will start from the pole for the 27th time in his career when he hits the dragstrip on 
Sunday morning at the NHRA Norwalk Nationals.
Capps clocked his top-seeded E.T. when he powered the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to a stout 3.888-second at 329.34-mph run under the lights during Q1 on Friday night. Saturday’s two qualifying sessions featured much warmer weather conditions, and despite his competitors’ best efforts, no one was able to knock Capps from his position at the top of the Funny Car ladder.
“These Camping World Series hats are so hard to come by, and like I said yesterday, this class is so tough right now,” remarked Capps of locking in his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season. “Our race weekend is off to a great start. We’ve got a phenomenal car. ‘Guido’ (Dean Antonelli), John Medlen, and our whole NAPA AutoCare team, everyone’s doing such a great job. We were sitting in the lanes for Q3 and thought we may have an opportunity to improve on our 3.88 but then the sun came out. We still ended up running a 3.968, which held up to be the fourth-quickest of the round, so another good, solid run.”
