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Ron Capps Finishes Strong with Semifinal at NHRA U.S. Nationals
Highlights
- Ron Capps finished second in NHRA U.S. Nationals semifinals
- Capps briefly reclaimed points lead but lost to Matt Hagan
- Posted fastest qualifying runs with top speeds over 330 mph
- Mechanical issue delayed quarterfinals but Capps still advanced
- Countdown to Championship begins September 18-20 in Michigan
- Capps aims for fourth Funny Car world championship title
Ron Capps concludes the NHRA Mission Foods regular season with a semifinal run at the 72nd U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, narrowly missing the regular-season crown after losing to Matt Hagan.
He enters the finale 12 points down, briefly retakes the lead in qualifying, then finishes second overall, positioning himself for the Countdown reset and a fourth Funny Car championship bid.
Capps’ Carlyle Tools-liveried Funny Car, run by crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli and the NAPA Auto Care team, opens Friday with 3.938s at 329.10 mph and three bonus points.
Saturday progress continues: a 4.003 at 315.64 tops session two for four points, then 3.914 at 332.18 secures provisional pole and trims the gap to Hagan.
On Sunday he trails by one, loses Callout traction to Alexis DeJoria, then rebounds with 3.936 at 329.34 for four points, extending his U.S. Nationals momentum.
Capps clocks 3.908 seconds at 333.66 mph to open eliminations, his quickest pass of the event.
Eliminations on Monday begin with a statement: 3.908 at 333.66 dismisses John Smith, the quickest pass of his event, confirming the tune-up’s efficiency in denser morning air.
A late mechanical concern compresses turnaround before quarterfinals, but despite a delayed roll to staging, he beats Daniel Wilkerson with 3.989 at 320.97 on a hotter raceday surface.
The semifinal showdown with Matt Hagan decides the regular-season title; Capps settles for runner-up in the standings.
The semifinal against Hagan is decisive. In the trickier right lane, Capps smokes the tires; Hagan keeps it clean to win and reclaim P1, as the latest leaders update shows.
Capps notes the lane imbalance and applauds the competition, stressing the team’s resilience with Antonelli’s group and the performance window they’ve refined across qualifying and eliminations.
Countdown to the Championship opens September 18–20 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan.
Focus now shifts to the Countdown, starting September 18–20 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, where reset points and recent Mission 2Fast2Tasty winners shape expectations over six deciding events.
Visual Summary
Capps
Hagan
Points Lead Briefly Secured
⚡
Semifinal standoff: Capps
vs Hagan
Traction lost 💨
Points title slips away!
Q1
3.938s / 329.10 mph +3pts
Q2
4.003s / 315.64 mph +4pts
Q3
3.914s / 332.18 mph +4pts
Semi
Lost to Hagan ⚡
Next up: Countdown to the Championship
Capps starts the most intense title chase, eyeing world championship #4
Sept 18–20 | Martin, MI
Capps starts the most intense title chase, eyeing world championship #4
Sept 18–20 | Martin, MI
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.
