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Ron Capps Extends Funny Car Points Lead with Strong Semifinal at NHRA Potomac
Highlights
- Ron Capps leads Funny Car points after Potomac Nationals semifinals
- Faced track challenges, improved qualifying to finish as No. 10 seed
- Defeated Alexis DeJoria and Cruz Pedregon in early elimination rounds
- Semifinal loss to Austin Prock ended bid for Potomac final
- Next race June 5-7 at NHRA New England Nationals
- Capps qualified for Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2026 season
Ron Capps converted a semifinal finish at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals into sole Funny Car points leadership at Maryland International Raceway, opening a three-race stretch with clear momentum.
He arrived tied with J.R. Todd after winning two of the first six Mission Foods rounds. Crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli led data gathering at a venue new to the NHRA calendar.
Capps leaves Maryland with the Funny Car points lead after a semifinal run.
Opening qualifying brought tire shake and lost traction. A 4.050-second Q2 lap improved him to 11th. Saturday delivered Q3 spin, then a 4.024 at 321.65 mph to 10th.
As the No. 10 seed, Capps met Alexis DeJoria in round one. He controlled the matchup, delivering a 4.001 at 321.12 mph to edge DeJoria’s 4.009.
Cruz Pedregon awaited next. Both struggled off the line, but Capps salvaged progression with a 4.255, managing the tricky launch better than his rival.
The semifinal demanded peak execution. Capps produced a 4.014 at 320.28 mph, his second-quickest. Defending champion Austin Prock answered with 3.998, halting Capps’ push.
Austin Prock’s 3.998 ended Capps’ advance despite a 4.014 semifinal effort.
Capps called it a gut-check weekend. Early sessions felt off, yet iterative changes sharpened the NAPA Auto Care team and his approach as grip evolved.
The new facility tested drivers and equipment, rewarding adaptability. Fan turnout mirrored support once seen at Maple Grove, Richmond, and Englishtown, adding energy to a circuit debut with character.
Qualifying recovery: from early traction loss to a 4.024 at 321.65 mph and the No. 10 seed.
The outcome extends Capps’ championship platform. He qualifies for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and heads to the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, June 5–7, carrying the points lead.
The Potomac weekend also showcased rivals, including Antron Brown, underscoring depth in both nitro categories as teams compress learning across back-to-back events.
Next stop: NHRA New England Nationals, June 5–7, with Capps qualified for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Visual Summary
Capps Takes the Lead
⬆️ Points Leader
QF
→
SF
→
Final?
Best Run: 4.001 E.T. (vs DeJoria)
321.12 mph Top Speed
“It was a gut-check weekend!”
⏭️
Next: New England Nationals
June 5–7, Epping, NH
Next: New England Nationals
June 5–7, Epping, NH
“The crowd vibe? Incredible! Maryland fans brought the energy to the Potomac Nationals debut.”
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
