NHRA Arizona Nationals Pre-Race Report

2023 NHRA, Gatornationals

Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
NHRA Arizona Nationals Event Highlights:

Three-time event winner (2003, 2009, 2013)
Four-time runner-up (1998, 2000, 2005, 2017)
Three-time No. 1 qualifier (2000, 2009, 2016)

2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals Recap:
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Jim Campbell in E1; defeated by John Force in E2)

Last Event (Gainesville):
Qualified No. 1; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1; defeated by Alexis DeJoria in E2)

2023 Statistics:
One event; one No. 1 qualifier

Career Statistics:
610 events; 73 wins; 37 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

Made his professional debut at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park while competing in the Top Fuel category (1995)
Could achieve his 50th round win for Ron Capps Motorsports in Gainesville. He enters the weekend with 47 round wins since branching out on his own
Capps’ next final round appearance will be his 10th since forming RCM

Fan Events:
Capps will join his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates at the Toyota midway display from 10 – 10:30 a.m. on Saturday for a Team Toyota autograph session

Quotable:
“It’s bittersweet knowing that this is likely to be our last Arizona Nationals event. I used to go to that track growing up as a crew member, working on several different alcohol dragsters, Blaine and Alan Johnson’s car. Throughout my career, it was the first race I entered when I was a rookie in Top Fuel, driving for Roger Primm. We actually qualified and ran Joe Amato first round, and I won my first round of competition against the legendary Joe Amato at that event. I remember we had just barely gotten the car together and got it to the race. It was my rookie year and I hadn’t even driven a car to the finish line under power prior to that.

“When I got hired by Don Prudhomme to drive his Funny Car, Phoenix was where we tested and I made my first runs in a nitro Funny Car. It’s pretty incredible to fast forward and look at where we are now. I’ve been fortunate enough to get a couple of wins there and race for legendary sponsors and team owners, so it’s been pretty special. Phoenix has always been one of those events where we would take our family, and make a whole trip out of it, so it’s more than just a race for me, and we would love nothing more than to win the last Arizona Nationals this weekend.”