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Ron Capps Dominates with 40th No. 1 Qualifier, Leads Funny Car Points at U.S. Nationals
Highlights
- Ron Capps earned No. 1 qualifying spot at U.S. Nationals
- Capps reclaimed Funny Car points lead over Matt Hagan
- Posted fastest 3.914-second run at 332.18 mph on Saturday
- Crew chief Dean Antonelli led Carlyle/NAPA Auto Care team
- Eliminations begin Monday at 10 a.m. ET, televised on FS1
- Opening round matchup: Capps vs. No. 16 qualifier John Smith
Ron Capps secures the No. 1 qualifier at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, reclaiming the Funny Car points lead on the eve of eliminations at the NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Across five sessions, he banks 15 of a possible 20 bonus points, overturning a 12‑point deficit to Matt Hagan through consistency, quick early increments, and repeatable power application.
Running a special Carlyle Tools livery on the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car, Capps delivers four fast laps from five attempts. Three session‑toppers underline the tuning range found by Dean Antonelli’s group.
The headline number is a 3.914s at 332.18 mph, set Saturday and unchallenged Sunday. It earns his 40th career No. 1 and third of the 2026 campaign.
3.914s at 332.18 mph delivers Capps’ 40th career No. 1 and third of 2026.
A slip in the Funny Car All‑Star Callout proved brief. He rebounds in Q5 with a 3.936s at 329.34 mph, quickest of the session, banking four more points and securing lane choice.
Capps collects 15 of 20 bonus points to overhaul Matt Hagan entering race day.
The points picture tightens behind him. Hagan, Jordan Vandergriff, and J.R. Todd are effectively within one round, shaping seeding pressure before the Countdown to the Championship.
Antonelli’s crew leans on stable launch maps and a forgiving clutch window as conditions evolve. The car repeats early‑track numbers, a crucial marker for race‑day adaptability and turnaround discipline.
He opens eliminations against No. 16 John Smith with lane choice, a tangible advantage given rubber distribution and midday heat. Upsets remain possible, but Capps’ repeatability reduces exposure.
Eliminations start 10 a.m. ET Monday, with FS1 coverage from noon.
His weekend forms part of sustained momentum at Indianapolis, building on race‑by‑race gains tracked since midsummer. That arc mirrors speed shown during his recent Brainerd form as the field converges on the regular‑season finale.
The performance context sits within a broader weekend narrative at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, where qualifying depth magnifies lane value and reaction precision. It follows intense Funny Car All‑Star Callout exchanges and recent Mission #2Fast2Tasty highlights that stress execution under pressure.
Visual Summary
No. 1 Qualifier!
332.2
mph
mph
3.914 sec
Best blast at Indy
Jumped from
2nd to 1st
2nd to 1st
⇧
⚡
⚡
Regained points lead
Bonus Points Collected
15
out of 20 possible
out of 20 possible
Overcame deficit
+12
pts
pts
Lead ACHIEVED
“This is what champions do—come from behind when it matters most.”
– Ron Capps
– Ron Capps
Next Up: Eliminations vs John Smith
🏁
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Catch the action: 10 a.m. ET Monday | FS1
Other Contenders:
Hagan
Vandergriff
J.R. Todd
All within one round
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.
