Points Leader Capps Records Another Semifinal Finish at NHRA New England Nationals

Ron Capps continued to lead the way in the NHRA Funny Car championship chase Sunday at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, driving the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car to his second consecutive semifinal finish. The three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion entered the eighth event of the 20-race NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season as the points leader and left with that lead intact, adding another late-round race day run to a season that already includes two wins, a runner-up finish, and two No. 1 qualifying efforts.

Capps powered to the provisional No. 3 position in Friday’s opening qualifying session, earning one bonus point with his 4.065-second pass at 319.22 mph. He lost traction around the eighth-mile mark in the second session, his only brush with traction issues for the weekend. Capps and crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli stepped up to a 3.945 E.T. at 328.22 mph in Q3, the second-quickest pass of the session, to earn two more bonus points. It was also the first round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and Capps turned on the win light over two-time and defending world champion Austin Prock. In the final qualifying session and final round of the Mission Challenge, Capps moved first and charged to a 3.953-second pass, but Jordan Vandergriff drove around him to take the win. Capps secured the No. 6 slot on the eliminations ladder.

Capps’ string of passes in the mid-3.90-second range continued on race day. He threw down the third-quickest run of the first round, a 3.948 E.T., to defeat a tire-smoking Daniel Wilkerson. He then set low E.T. of the second round with his 3.938-second pass to knock out Alexis DeJoria in a side-by-side race decided by just one thousandth of a second. By advancing to the semifinals, Capps also earned a spot in the next Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. The NAPA Auto Care machine was consistent and quick again in the semis, where Capps posted a 3.943 E.T. at 325.37 mph but not quite enough to outpace Jack Beckman, who won with a 3.904 E.T.

“This is the time of the season to have the points lead,” Capps said. “To have two Wallys at home already, is incredible. Going into this year, we said the Funny Car division was as tough as we’ve ever seen it, and here we are again saying the same thing. So, to be on top is great. It speaks to the consistency that we’ve had, but honestly, we’re not at our best, which is even cooler because we feel like we are struggling a little bit to get a little better, and when you can say that you’re the points leader when you think you’ve got more room to improve, that’s pretty neat as well. Guido and the NAPA Auto Care guys have done a great job. I feel comfortable driving the car. We’re just having a great season so far.”

Capps now carries his points lead into the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14, at Bristol Dragway. With eight victories there, the Ron Capps Motorsports team owner is the winningest driver in the professional ranks at the historic Tennessee facility.

Start / Finish: No. 6 / def. in semifinals
Points Standing / Total: No. 1 / 617 pts. (+15)

Next Race: June 12-14, NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
How to Watch or Listen: FS1, NHRA.TV

NAPA Racing:@NAPARacing
Ron Capps: @RonCapps28
Ron Capps Motorsports: @TeamRonCapps