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Ron Capps Holds Funny Car Points Lead Despite Early Sonoma Exit
Highlights
- Ron Capps secured top qualifying spot at Sonoma with 3.900-second run
- Capps won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at Sonoma Raceway
- Capps lost first-round elimination to Austin Prock, third loss of season
- Capps maintained Funny Car points lead despite early Sonoma exit
- Team supported by NAPA Echlin and welcomed local fans at Sonoma
- Capps aims to rebound at July 24-26 Muckleshoot Casino Resort race
At the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Ron Capps topped qualifying and won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, then lost to Austin Prock in round one. He retains the Funny Car points lead.
Capps arrived with momentum after Norwalk, where he earned his 80th career win. Teammate Maddi Gordon also broke through for her first Top Fuel victory, underscoring the team’s form.
Qualifying confirmed the baseline. An early 3.900s at 330.07 mph earned pole and three bonus points. Tire spin followed in Q2, and he ended Friday provisionally fourth.
Saturday delivered two more attempts and the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. In a Norwalk semifinal rematch, he edged Alexis DeJoria with 3.941s at 329.26 mph, adding two points.
Capps’ 3.900s at 330.07 mph secured pole and three bonus points.
In the final against Jack Beckman, Capps managed early tire spin, lifted briefly, and clocked 4.429s at 225.03 mph. It sealed his first challenge win of 2026 and fifth overall.
His #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory was his first of 2026 and fifth of his career.
Eliminations flipped the script. Against two‑time defending champion Austin Prock, the launches were near‑identical. Capps lost traction mid‑run, lifted, and Prock advanced, handing Capps a third first‑round defeat.
Despite a rare first‑round defeat, Capps maintains control of the Funny Car points lead.
The competitive picture remains encouraging. The car’s peak speed suggests margin, while crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli’s diagnostics typically convert setbacks into quick gains without compromising race‑day discipline.
Capps acknowledged pushing the envelope against the Prock operation. That aggression is understandable given recent form, but Sonoma underlined the need to widen the tuning window before eliminations.
The Ron Capps Motorsports pit stayed vibrant throughout the Sonoma weekend, with NAPA Echlin, Russian River Brewing, and long‑time supporters present. Local favorite Gary Scelzi’s presence added energy and engagement.
Championship‑wise, the weekend still offered net positives. Pole, bonus points, and the challenge win offset the early exit, preserving momentum and limiting damage against core rivals.
Next up is the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals, July 24–26. Pacific Raceways suits Capps; his first Top Fuel win came there in 1995, followed by Funny Car wins.
Visual Summary
Ron Capps: Fastest in Qualifying
But Eliminated Early at Sonoma
But Eliminated Early at Sonoma
3.900s
Fastest Qualifying
+5
Bonus Points
⚠️
1st Round Exit
Next stop: Seattle 💨 Can Capps Bounce Back?
July 24-26 • Pacific Raceways
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.
