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Ron Capps Motorsports

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Semifinal Finish for Ron Capps at NHRA Winternationals

POMONA, CA – Ron Capps was looking to make it four straight NHRA Winternationals final round appearances on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, but a puff of smoke in the semifinals halted the three-time Funny Car world champion’s shot at capping off his weekend in the winner’s circle at a facility he considers to be a home track.

The driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car has enjoyed an impeccable record at Pomona as of late. His last six outings at both the Spring and Fall events have included three No. 1 qualifiers, three runner-up finishes, and a win at the rescheduled 2021 Winternationals. After powering to the second-quickest pass during the second and final round of what became an abbreviated qualifying show due to persistent rain, the lifelong Californian and current Carlsbad resident placed his NAPA GR Supra in the No. 2 qualifying position and appeared to be on track to tie his former boss, Don Prudhomme, the only Funny Car driver to make four consecutive Winternationals final round appearances (1975 – ’78).

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Ron Capps Loses Bizarre Second-Round Matchup at NHRA Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, FL – Three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps didn’t predict that a double-step and a red light in the second round would mark the end of his weekend Sunday afternoon at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. When opponent J.R. Todd double-stepped while waiting for the tree to drop, Capps reacted early and turned on the red light in his quick and consistent NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra.

Capps in his Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli-tuned hot rod qualified third after consistently going down the track and making the third-quickest pass in all three completed qualifying sessions; Saturday’s fourth session was canceled due to weather. He picked up one bonus point in each of those sessions. It was Capps’ 3.871-second pass at 333.00 MPH in Friday’s second session that put him third on the final qualifying order.

In the first round of eliminations on Sunday, Capps left the starting line first against Jim Campbell and charged to a 3.870-second pass at 332.18 MPH to get the win over a tire-hazing Campbell. It was the second-quickest performance of the round and Capps’ quickest of the weekend, extending his record over Campbell to a class-record 18-0 and giving him lane choice in the second round.

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Ron Capps Relishes Chance to Race for Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award at SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout

BRADENTON, FL — After four rounds of qualifying at the PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park, three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps had the unique opportunity to participate in the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car Shootout on Saturday.

On the line was the Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award, which honors the late NHRA team owner and Funny Car pioneer whom Capps spent 17 years driving for during his standout career. It was a meaningful moment for Capps, who took on Top Fuel driver Billy Torrence in the opening round of the shootout.

Capps posted a .071 reaction time in his NAPA AutoCare Toyota GR Supra to gain the early advantage, but the car lost traction and finished with a run of 4.706-seconds at 182.60 mph. It spelled the end for Capps’ chance to win the special award, but he enjoyed every minute of the Funny Car vs. Top Fuel matchup and an opportunity to honor the iconic team owner.

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Ron Capps Motorsports Partners with Mobil 1 for 2024 NHRA Championship Run

BROWNSBURG, IN – Mobil 1™, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, announced today the brand has joined the championship-winning Ron Capps Motorsports team for the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

As the official oil and lubricants supplier of the Ron Capps Motorsports team, Mobil 1 products will be trusted in the 339.28-MPH NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra as the third-year team makes a run for their second Funny Car world championship and Ron Capps’ fourth overall. Additionally, Mobil 1 technology will be relied upon in the team’s two 53-foot semi-trucks and Toyota Sequoia tow vehicle.

“Ron Capps Motorsports is extremely proud to partner with the Mobil 1 brand,” said Capps, a 76-time winner. “One thing I’ve learned as a driver, and especially now as a team owner, is just how much of an important factor having the right motor oil is. There aren’t many things on this planet that will put oil and lubricants to the test quite like our 13,000 horsepower engines will. We feel like we can test anything under the most severe conditions. The products and parts we put in and on our NAPA GR Supra race car need to be able to withstand the rigors that come with racing these nitromethane-burning beasts.

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Outgoing Funny Car World Champ Ron Capps Bows Out Early at NHRA Finals, Finishes Season Ranked Fourth

POMONA, CA – Racing one last time with the No. 1 competition number on his car for the 2023 season, outgoing NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps went out early at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. His NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra started to haze the tires in the first round of eliminations, marking the end of Capps’ second season as a driver and team owner.

In qualifying, Capps started with an off-pace pass in Friday’s first session before laying down a 3.908-second run that put him sixth going into Saturday’s two sessions. A 3.915 E.T. followed in Q3, then a 3.882-second blast in the final session initially moved Capps up a few spots, but he slipped back to No. 7 by the time the session wrapped up.

A four-time winner at Pomona, Capps went into race day looking for his first-ever win at the season finale. In a first-round battle between Funny Car veterans, Tim Wilkerson and Capps were nearly even leaving the starting line. The NAPA Toyota started to lose traction around the 330-foot mark, and Capps had to coast across the finish line to a 4.595-second pass.

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Ron Capps Experiences Déjà Vu in First-Round Exit in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – A quick, consistent qualifying effort had Ron Capps looking forward to a long day of racing at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, but for the second consecutive event, the reigning Funny Car world champion bowed out in the first round of eliminations on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Capps and his NAPA Auto Parts team are now focused on taking their success from qualifying into the final race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Series season.

Capps in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra made a strong baseline run in the first qualifying session, a 3.928-second pass at 322.73 MPH, that allowed him and crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli to get progressively more aggressive across the next three sessions. Capps recorded a pair of 3.90-second passes in the next two sessions, then laid down a 3.877-second pass that stood as the second-quickest pass of the final qualifying session and the fourth-quickest performance of all four sessions. He earned a total of three bonus points in qualifying.

Capps went into eliminations paired up with Funny Car rookie Alex Laughlin for the second race in a row. He was looking to avenge his first-round loss to Laughlin at the last race on tour in Dallas, and while Capps led the way for most of the race, he started to lose traction around 600 feet down-track and had to watch Laughlin pass him by. Capps posted a 4.090 E.T. to Laughlin’s 4.089 E.T.

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Ron Capps Leaves First-Round Exit at Dallas Looking Ahead to Las Vegas

ENNIS, TX – After back-to-back Dallas wins, a first-round loss at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals was the last thing Ron Capps was expecting when he started Sunday eliminations at the Texas Motorplex. But after driving into tire smoke, Capps had to watch as opponent Alex Laughlin drove past him for the win. It was a challenging first round for several other top-ranked Funny Car drivers, though, so the driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra will maintain his No. 4 position in the points standings going into the penultimate race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Series season.

Capps opened qualifying with a 3.889-second pass at 326.42 MPH before improving on that mark twice, including a weekend-best 3.844 E.T. in the final session to qualify fourth. Capps made the third-quickest pass of two sessions, collecting two bonus points along the way.

Seeking his third consecutive win at the Texas Motorplex, Capps paired up with Laughlin for the first round of eliminations. The second-year team owner and driver started to drive into tire smoke, and while he attempted to recover, he lost traction again and had to coast across the finish line. It was just the fourth first-round exit for Capps in his third championship defense season.

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Ron Capps Takes NAPA Toyota GR Supra to Funny Car Final Round at St. Louis

MADISON, IL – Reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps boosted his ‘Capps Trick’ campaign for a third consecutive title by racing to a runner-up finish at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. He dropped a spot to fourth in the points standings after a tie-breaker final round against Matt Hagan, but the second-year team owner is as motivated as ever to chase another championship in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra.

Capps, who earned his first career Funny Car win at St. Louis in 1997, was one of several top-ranked drivers who struggled to get down the track in the first qualifying session on Friday. He rebounded in the second session on Saturday with the second-quickest run of the round, a 4.023 E.T., to earn two bonus points. He just missed out on bonus points in the third and final session with his 3.952, which was the fourth-quickest pass of the session. It also moved Capps up a spot to the No. 7 position.

The first round of eliminations saw Capps line up against Tim Wilkerson, who owns a NAPA AutoCare Center in nearby Springfield, Ill. Capps grabbed a .025-second advantage on the starting line, and it paid off at the finish line when his engine expired. NHRA’s marquee matchup lived up to the hype, as Capps recorded a 3.998 E.T. at 306.12 MPH to beat Wilkerson’s 3.977 E.T. at 318.47 MPH on a holeshot. Capps was first off the line again against Alex Laughlin in the second round and powered on to a winning 4.066-second performance. With crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli calling the shots, Capps improved to a 4.014 E.T. at 323.35 MPH to defeat Blake Alexander and earn lane choice for the final round by just .002 seconds.

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Tire Smoke Bites Ron Capps in Rare First-Round Exit at NHRA Carolina Nationals

CONCORD, NC – With just two first-round losses in the first 16 races of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Series season, three-time and defending Funny Car world champion Ron Capps wasn’t expecting an early exit at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals. But when Capps’ NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra drove into tire smoke in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning, Capps and his Ron Capps Motorsports team were left packing up early at the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship.

Capps kicked off qualifying with a solid 3.885-second pass, the second-quickest run of the first session, to earn two bonus points. He went up in smoke in the second session on Saturday, then fired off a 3.864 E.T. to move up to the No. 5 spot going into eliminations.

Rolling into race day as the three-time and defending event champion, Capps paired up with Dave Richards in the opening round. The two drivers left the starting line together, then Capps started to lose traction around 400 feet down the track. He tried to recover by pedaling his 11,000-horsepower machine, but he eventually had to lift off the throttle and watch as Richards turned on the win light. It was one of four pairings where the quicker qualified driver was upset.

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Ron Capps Charges to Semifinal Finish at Maple Grove

READING, PA – As the regular season champion going into the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Ron Capps needed a strong points-earning weekend at the NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. While he fell short of a third consecutive event win in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, the three-time and reigning world champion did reach the semifinals after qualifying No. 2. He slipped to second in the points standings, though he has a consistent three-second hot rod going into the next race in just a few days.

Under the guidance of crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli, Capps went down the track in all four qualifying sessions with passes well into the three-second zone. His worst pass was a 3.938-second blast in the first session, and his best was a 3.879 E.T. at 333.99 MPH in the final session that put Capps second going into race day. He collected a total of three bonus points over the course of qualifying.

Capps’ consistency carried over into Sunday eliminations, as he started the day with a 3.903-second pass to beat Dave Richards. It was a battle between the two winningest drivers in Funny Car history in the second round when Capps paired up with John Force. Capps moved first and held the lead through the finish line, recording a 3.899 E.T. at 326.40 MPH to advance to the semifinals against Robert Hight.

Rain showers after the quarterfinals forced NHRA officials to push the rest of eliminations into Monday. True to his record of leaving first in 71% of his semifinal matches, Capps grabbed a holeshot advantage, but he lost traction and had to coast through the finish line while Hight made a clean pass to advance. Hight went on to win the event, taking over the points lead from Capps in the process.

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