CONCORD, N.C. (April 27, 2025) – With a special NAPA Auto Parts 100th Anniversary livery on his Toyota GR Supra, three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps raced to a runner-up finish at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on Sunday afternoon. Guided by crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli, Capps fired off a 3.92-second pass at 327.51 mph in a Funny Car final quad that saw all four competitors race down the zMAX Dragway strip together. It was the second runner-up finish in five races for the Ron Capps Motorsports driver and team owner.
When Capps rolled to the ready line for the first qualifying session on Friday, he became the first of his NAPA-backed auto racing teammates to debut the centennial-themed scheme. Founded in 1925, NAPA was at the forefront of the transportation revolution, laying the groundwork for the automotive aftermarket of today. All NAPA-backed motorsports teams will run similar commemorative schemes on or around NAPA’s May 4th anniversary to mark a century of innovation, dedication, and community support from America’s largest network of parts and care.
Capps stayed in the 3-second range through all four qualifying sessions. Despite a dropped cylinder, he posted a 3.928-second pass at 320.05 mph in the opening session to sit 10th. He made a move toward the centerline in his second attempt but still improved to a 3.867 E.T. at 310.41 mph. Antonelli sent Capps on the third-quickest pass of the third qualifying session, a 3.975 E.T., to earn a bonus point. Capps then wrapped up qualifying with a 3.937-second pass, ending up No. 6 going into race day.
Sunday eliminations saw Capps stay consistent with a 3.936 E.T. at 328.22 mph to finish second behind reigning world champion Austin Prock and ahead of Buddy Hull and Cruz Pedregon. In the second round, it was Prock and Capps advancing again, with Capps’ 3.945 E.T. at 325.77 mph just slightly trailing Prock’s 3.93 E.T. and putting him ahead of rookie Hunter Green and past world champ J.R. Todd.
In the final quad, Capps left the line second behind Matt Hagan on his way to his quickest pass of eliminations, a 3.920 E.T. at 327.51 mph. However, it wasn’t quick enough to hold off Prock, who won with low E.T. of race day, a 3.87-second pass. Capps finished as the runner-up.
“Looking back now, it still stings to lose a close race like that, but for the fans, to have all four cars go down the track in the finals was really cool,” said Capps, a four-time winner at zMAX Dragway. “I just told Guido how impressed I was. I’m not sure how many other cars went down the track on all seven runs – four qualifying runs and three elimination rounds – like we did with the NAPA 100 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, and that’s a huge accomplishment with the weather changes we’ve had throughout the weekend. We kept choice of lane throughout the day, and we knew Prock was going to be tough to beat again, but Guido made a pretty big change to pick the speed up in the middle of the track and I really thought it was going to get the win light. I saw the solid light on, which meant second place, but we really gave them a run for their money.”
Capps continued to praise his team’s efforts to put the NAPA 100 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car in the final round, marking a promising start to the centennial celebration that will also include Hendricks Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“All our NAPA guys showed ‘NAPA Know How’ and there’s no better time to do that and celebrate 100 years of NAPA,” Capps said. “Mr. (Rick) Hendrick was down at the top end and his driver, Chase Elliott, is going to get to drive the NAPA 100 car next weekend, so it was really cool to have him here. It was a great weekend of celebration of Carlyle Fraser, who started the company 100 years ago.”
Capps and his No. 5 ranked Ron Capps Motorsports team will have some time to refresh before the next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, the Route 66 Nationals, May 16-18, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
Qualified: No. 6 (3.867 E.T. at 336.65 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.936 E.T. at 328.22 MPH defeated Buddy Hull 4.020 E.T. at 320.43 MPH, Cruz Pedregon 4.339 E.T. at 204.51 MPH
E2: 3.945 E.T. at 325.77 MPH defeated Hunter Green 4.073 E.T. at 281.89 MPH, J.R. Todd (Foul, Red Light)
E3: 3.920 E.T. at 327.51 MPH defeated Matt Hagan 3.939 E.T. at 329.10 MPH, Alexis DeJoria 3.933 E.T. at 327.98 MPH; defeated by Austin Prock 3.870 E.T. at 332.92 MPH
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When Capps rolled to the ready line for the first qualifying session on Friday, he became the first of his NAPA-backed auto racing teammates to debut the centennial-themed scheme. Founded in 1925, NAPA was at the forefront of the transportation revolution, laying the groundwork for the automotive aftermarket of today. All NAPA-backed motorsports teams will run similar commemorative schemes on or around NAPA’s May 4th anniversary to mark a century of innovation, dedication, and community support from America’s largest network of parts and care.
Capps stayed in the 3-second range through all four qualifying sessions. Despite a dropped cylinder, he posted a 3.928-second pass at 320.05 mph in the opening session to sit 10th. He made a move toward the centerline in his second attempt but still improved to a 3.867 E.T. at 310.41 mph. Antonelli sent Capps on the third-quickest pass of the third qualifying session, a 3.975 E.T., to earn a bonus point. Capps then wrapped up qualifying with a 3.937-second pass, ending up No. 6 going into race day.
Sunday eliminations saw Capps stay consistent with a 3.936 E.T. at 328.22 mph to finish second behind reigning world champion Austin Prock and ahead of Buddy Hull and Cruz Pedregon. In the second round, it was Prock and Capps advancing again, with Capps’ 3.945 E.T. at 325.77 mph just slightly trailing Prock’s 3.93 E.T. and putting him ahead of rookie Hunter Green and past world champ J.R. Todd.
In the final quad, Capps left the line second behind Matt Hagan on his way to his quickest pass of eliminations, a 3.920 E.T. at 327.51 mph. However, it wasn’t quick enough to hold off Prock, who won with low E.T. of race day, a 3.87-second pass. Capps finished as the runner-up.
“Looking back now, it still stings to lose a close race like that, but for the fans, to have all four cars go down the track in the finals was really cool,” said Capps, a four-time winner at zMAX Dragway. “I just told Guido how impressed I was. I’m not sure how many other cars went down the track on all seven runs – four qualifying runs and three elimination rounds – like we did with the NAPA 100 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, and that’s a huge accomplishment with the weather changes we’ve had throughout the weekend. We kept choice of lane throughout the day, and we knew Prock was going to be tough to beat again, but Guido made a pretty big change to pick the speed up in the middle of the track and I really thought it was going to get the win light. I saw the solid light on, which meant second place, but we really gave them a run for their money.”
Capps continued to praise his team’s efforts to put the NAPA 100 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car in the final round, marking a promising start to the centennial celebration that will also include Hendricks Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“All our NAPA guys showed ‘NAPA Know How’ and there’s no better time to do that and celebrate 100 years of NAPA,” Capps said. “Mr. (Rick) Hendrick was down at the top end and his driver, Chase Elliott, is going to get to drive the NAPA 100 car next weekend, so it was really cool to have him here. It was a great weekend of celebration of Carlyle Fraser, who started the company 100 years ago.”
Capps and his No. 5 ranked Ron Capps Motorsports team will have some time to refresh before the next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, the Route 66 Nationals, May 16-18, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
Qualified: No. 6 (3.867 E.T. at 336.65 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.936 E.T. at 328.22 MPH defeated Buddy Hull 4.020 E.T. at 320.43 MPH, Cruz Pedregon 4.339 E.T. at 204.51 MPH
E2: 3.945 E.T. at 325.77 MPH defeated Hunter Green 4.073 E.T. at 281.89 MPH, J.R. Todd (Foul, Red Light)
E3: 3.920 E.T. at 327.51 MPH defeated Matt Hagan 3.939 E.T. at 329.10 MPH, Alexis DeJoria 3.933 E.T. at 327.98 MPH; defeated by Austin Prock 3.870 E.T. at 332.92 MPH
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The post Ron Capps Helps NAPA Celebrate 100 Years with NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Runner-Up Finish appeared first on Ron Capp Motorsports.
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