Ron Capps Triumphs as ‘King of Nitro’ in All-Ron Capps Motorsports Night Under Fire Finale

Ron Capps is crowned ‘King of Nitro’ at the 49th Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park. He beats teammate Maddi Gordon for a $100,000 prize.

The final pairs Gordon’s Top Fuel dragster against Capps’ NAPA Auto Care Funny Car in a staggered-start showcase balancing the classes’ performance.

Capps runs 3.843 seconds at 333.91 mph, beating Gordon’s 3.733 at 338.09 mph on a holeshot, with execution outweighing outright pace.

The all-Ron Capps Motorsports final underscores organisational depth. Dean “Guido” Antonelli chooses an aggressive tune-up, while Rob Flynn and Troy Fasching give Gordon a quick, repeatable package.

Night Under Fire adopts four-car shootouts in both categories, with each winner advancing to a mixed-class final. The format creates strategic variety and fan engagement.

Qualifying happens Friday. Capps tops Funny Car with 3.895 at 330.72 mph, edging rivals by a hundredth. Gordon sits third in Top Fuel with 3.821 at 322 mph.

Capps then beats Jordan Vandergriff with 3.896 at 331.94. He advances past Spencer Hyde with a 3.892 at 334.90, securing the Funny Car berth in the final.

Gordon eliminates Clay Millican in 3.770 at 330.07. She then outpaces Doug Kalitta, 3.723 at 336.49 to 3.741, establishing Top Fuel’s representative for the trophy.

Officials set a 0.180-second stagger on the tree for the final. Capps reacts in .045 and converts the head start, sealing a textbook holeshot against Gordon’s quicker package.

The Norwalk Night Under Fire’s format, and pressure, mirrors recent momentum. A month earlier, the team completed a nitro double-up here, with Capps’ 80th and Gordon’s first Top Fuel win.

Capps calls the victory unexpected, crediting Antonelli’s willingness to test in the final. Gordon labels it a milestone for the new two-car operation, applauding sponsors and a packed crowd.

While non-points, the win sharpens execution before Brainerd. Both squads pause, then return for the Brainerd Nationals, August 20–23, with Capps’ points lead and a highlight reel available.

Visual Summary

Nicholas Rivera

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.