Capps Dominates Qualifying, Advances to Route 66 Quarterfinals

Ron Capps advanced to the quarterfinals at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals after a strong run during qualifying at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago. The fan-favorite Funny Car driver worked with his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra team to overcome unusual weather and tough track conditions that affected the whole weekend.

Despite hazing the tires on his first qualifying attempt, Capps came back with a 3.998-second run at 318.17 mph in Q2, keeping his car in control while battling intense crosswinds. For more details on how weather impacts drag racing performance, check out this resource from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As qualifying continued, the NAPA Auto Care team improved across all sessions. Saturday brought extra excitement as the team took on elimination rounds for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge during their third and fourth qualifying runs.

In the first Challenge round, Capps faced Austin Prock, the current Funny Car world champion. Capps completed a powerful 3.895-second run at 325.77 mph, earning the third-fastest time of the session and collecting one bonus point even after dropping a cylinder late in the race.

The next round put Capps up against Matt Hagan in the finals of the Challenge. Capps posted a quick 3.889 at 330.88 mph, but Hagan won with a 3.880 elapsed time. To learn more about the engineering behind Funny Car performance, visit SAE International.

Capps started eliminations Sunday as the number six qualifier and was matched against Alexis DeJoria. He gained an early advantage off the starting line, holding the lead through to the stripe.

His run of 3.905 seconds at 331.69 mph edged out DeJoria’s 3.913 at 331.69, moving Capps and his team into the quarterfinals. In that round, Capps was again paired with Hagan.

Both drivers made clean, fast runs, but Hagan was first to the finish, ending Capps’ weekend in Joliet.

After the race, Capps shared his thoughts about the unpredictable weekend. He recognized the effort of his crew chief Dean Antonelli and the team, who gathered valuable data by making consistent runs in demanding conditions.

Capps also noted the importance of qualifying well to gain lane choice and expressed pride in his team’s victory over DeJoria in a close contest. He described racing against Hagan, a former teammate, as bittersweet because both are strong contenders for championships. For more on the history of NHRA rivalries, explore the NHRA’s official archives.

Capps comes out of Route 66 with more points and optimism. His focus now shifts to the upcoming NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire.

That event runs from May 30 to June 1, and Capps and the NAPA Auto Care team will continue battling for another Funny Car world title. The Route 66 weekend wraps up with Capps solidly positioned among the top competitors this season, looking to convert the momentum into wins at future races.