NORTH DINWIDDIE, Va. (June 22, 2025) – After scoring a long-awaited victory two weeks ago in Bristol, Ron Capps was hoping to keep the momentum rolling at the American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals. Instead, the three-time Funny Car world champion’s campaign ended in the second round at Virginia Motorsports Park. Driving the NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra tuned by Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli, Capps was aiming for back-to-back wins on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour but came up short in a tough matchup with Daniel Wilkerson on Sunday.
Saturday featured a jam-packed schedule where two of the three qualifying sessions also included the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge, which Capps qualified for when he reached the semifinals at the recent Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Capps made the fourth-quickest pass of the first qualifying session, a 4.028 E.T. at 320.81 mph. In the first round of the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Capps left first and outlasted Dave Richards in a race that saw both drivers lose traction. Capps made it down the track in the final round against Daniel Wilkerson, but his 4.063 E.T. at 315.12 mph wasn’t quick enough to get around Wilkerson and his 4.038 E.T.
Capps paired up with Chad Green in the first round of Sunday eliminations to form NHRA’s Marquee Matchup in Funny Car. The NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra left the starting line first and stayed in front through the finish line, posting a 4.032 E.T. at 321.81 mph to Green’s 4.047-second pass. In a second-round rematch of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final, Capps launched just before Wilkerson, but he drove into immediate tire smoke and had to coast to the finish line while Wilkerson set low E.T. of the round.
“I don’t think anyone thought it would be as warm as it’s been at Virginia Motorsports Park,” said Capps, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday. “We had a great, consistent qualifying effort by ‘Guido’ and the team. We almost won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday from a lesser-chosen lane. We felt good going into race day. I think we were third-quickest of the first round. The conditions were extreme and I’m just proud of the team keeping things going and staying in the top four in points. We’re going right into Norwalk, where it could be warm again, which gives me a lot of confidence as a driver.”
Before Capps gets back into his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, he’ll trade the straight line for the circle track when he joins star racers from numerous other forms of motorsports in the Thursday Night Thunder Heroes midget race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He’ll drive Matt Seymour Racing’s #29 Allstar midget sporting NAPA Auto Care colors. The all-star field also includes circle track icon and recent Top Fuel first-time winner Tony Stewart.
“It’s a big week,” said Capps, who most recently competed outside of drag racing in a Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) race in 2023. “Representing NHRA in a midget race with Tony Stewart is strange to say, but it’s very cool, and he’s excited as much as me or more. I’m looking to represent well for our NHRA fans on Thursday night and then get right back at it Friday at Norwalk.”
Capps is a past event champion at the next stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Series schedule, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 26-29, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Along with his 2016 win, he’s a four-time runner-up at Norwalk, most recently reaching the final round there last season.
Qualified: No. 5 (4.028 E.T. at 320.81 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.032 E.T. at 321.81 MPH defeated Chad Green 4.047 E.T. at 317.57 MPH
E2: 10.668 E.T. at 63.91 MPH defeated by Daniel Wilkerson 4.063 E.T. at 316.45 MPH
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
The post Quarterfinal Tire-Smoker Stops Ron Capps in Virginia appeared first on Ron Capp Motorsports.
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Saturday featured a jam-packed schedule where two of the three qualifying sessions also included the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge, which Capps qualified for when he reached the semifinals at the recent Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Capps made the fourth-quickest pass of the first qualifying session, a 4.028 E.T. at 320.81 mph. In the first round of the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Capps left first and outlasted Dave Richards in a race that saw both drivers lose traction. Capps made it down the track in the final round against Daniel Wilkerson, but his 4.063 E.T. at 315.12 mph wasn’t quick enough to get around Wilkerson and his 4.038 E.T.
Capps paired up with Chad Green in the first round of Sunday eliminations to form NHRA’s Marquee Matchup in Funny Car. The NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra left the starting line first and stayed in front through the finish line, posting a 4.032 E.T. at 321.81 mph to Green’s 4.047-second pass. In a second-round rematch of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final, Capps launched just before Wilkerson, but he drove into immediate tire smoke and had to coast to the finish line while Wilkerson set low E.T. of the round.
“I don’t think anyone thought it would be as warm as it’s been at Virginia Motorsports Park,” said Capps, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday. “We had a great, consistent qualifying effort by ‘Guido’ and the team. We almost won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday from a lesser-chosen lane. We felt good going into race day. I think we were third-quickest of the first round. The conditions were extreme and I’m just proud of the team keeping things going and staying in the top four in points. We’re going right into Norwalk, where it could be warm again, which gives me a lot of confidence as a driver.”
Before Capps gets back into his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, he’ll trade the straight line for the circle track when he joins star racers from numerous other forms of motorsports in the Thursday Night Thunder Heroes midget race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He’ll drive Matt Seymour Racing’s #29 Allstar midget sporting NAPA Auto Care colors. The all-star field also includes circle track icon and recent Top Fuel first-time winner Tony Stewart.
“It’s a big week,” said Capps, who most recently competed outside of drag racing in a Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) race in 2023. “Representing NHRA in a midget race with Tony Stewart is strange to say, but it’s very cool, and he’s excited as much as me or more. I’m looking to represent well for our NHRA fans on Thursday night and then get right back at it Friday at Norwalk.”
Capps is a past event champion at the next stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Series schedule, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 26-29, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Along with his 2016 win, he’s a four-time runner-up at Norwalk, most recently reaching the final round there last season.
Qualified: No. 5 (4.028 E.T. at 320.81 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.032 E.T. at 321.81 MPH defeated Chad Green 4.047 E.T. at 317.57 MPH
E2: 10.668 E.T. at 63.91 MPH defeated by Daniel Wilkerson 4.063 E.T. at 316.45 MPH
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
American Rebel Light Beer Virginia NHRA Nationals
The post Quarterfinal Tire-Smoker Stops Ron Capps in Virginia appeared first on Ron Capp Motorsports.
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