RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
- Three-time event champion (2012, 2018, 2022)
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
- Four-time winner
- One No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Event champion (defeated Blake Alexender in E1, Bob Tasca in E2, John Force in E3, Alexis DeJoria in E4)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified second; Semifinal finish (defeated Dave Richards in E1, John Force in E2; defeated by Robert Hight in E3)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; three wins, three runner-up finishes, two No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
624 races; 76 wins, 38 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- Returns to zMAX Dragway as the defending NHRA Carolina Nationals event champion
- Capps’ 2022 Charlotte 2 victory was one of two Countdown triumphs in four final rounds, and was an integral part of his championship defense
- The second-year team owner and three-time Funny Car world champion is in pursuit of a third consecutive Funny Car title and fourth overall
- Capps began the Countdown from the No. 1 seed after winning the regular-season championship during the U.S. Nationals
- Capps slipped to second after falling to eventual race winner Robert Hight at the previous event in Reading, Pa. Capps enters the weekend a mere three points behind Hight, who finished runner-up to Capps at the conclusion of the 2022 season
- Reset the zMAX Dragway Funny Car speed record when he powered his NAPA Supra to a 335.57 mph during the Spring event earlier this season
- Will go head-to-head with Antron Brown in the Toyota ‘Supra Showdown’ finale on Saturday; Brown and Capps have been selected by their Toyota teammates to represent their classes in the season-long charity race
Fan Events:
- Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Team Toyota autograph session at Toyota midway display
Quotable:
“Obviously, we see zMAX Dragway on the schedule twice a year and it puts a smile on everybody’s face because we know how well their staff treats the fans as well as the racers. It’s always a fantastic track; great facility. I’m bringing my mom to that race for the first time. It’ll be the first time she’s ever gone to an event at zMAX. So, looking forward to my mom hanging out and getting to spend the weekend with her, and hopefully ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and our NAPA AutoCare team can have another solid weekend like we did in Reading. We’re going into the race as the defending event champions and it sure would be nice to keep racking up the points.”