MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 28, 2025) – The unpredictable nature of Funny Car competition in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship portion of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season bit three-time world champion Ron Capps in the opening round of eliminations at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. Racing at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis on Sunday morning, Capps came out swinging in a highly anticipated first-round match, leaving the starting line first before tire smoke set in and ended his chances at a fourth consecutive St. Louis final round appearance. It wasn’t the outcome Capps wanted at the third of six playoff races, but as a seasoned veteran in the nitro ranks, Capps knows he’s still in the hunt for a fourth world title in his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra.
After spending Thursday visiting NAPA and McKay Auto Parts customers, Capps started qualifying on Friday with a promising run, but the parachutes came out early, slowing him to a No. 10-ranked pass. On the second qualifying pass, his car got out of the groove and moved toward the center line, and during the third session, he went into tire shake early in the run. Crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli got the NAPA Auto Care machine back on track in the fourth qualifying session, sending Capps on a 3.982-second ride at 324.05 mph to end up No. 13 going into race day.
Capps’ first-round pairing with Bob Tasca III kicked off eliminations in the category, and Capps was clearly amped up for it. He left the starting line first with a .061-second reaction time, but went into tire smoke shortly after launching and had to watch as Tasca powered ahead for the win. It marked the first time Capps lost in the first round of eliminations since the New England Nationals in early June.
“We’ve had great success in the past here in St. Louis, but the Countdown is what it is,” said Capps, who’s the all-time win leader in Funny Car at World Wide Technology Raceway. “With NAPA and their involvement with the Midwest Nationals, we were hoping for a better points outcome for sure, but there were a lot of crazy matchups in eliminations. Points-wise, we didn’t get hurt too bad. We’ve got two races to put ourselves in position to go into Pomona with a chance to make a run for it.”
Capps, who won world championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022, isn’t one to dwell on a tough outing. Instead, he’s looking ahead at the final three races of the Countdown, culminating with the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, which is worth points-and-a-half.
“Dallas is one of those places where you can really make up a lot of ground, as well as Las Vegas,” Capps said. “The great thing is, we’ve got a fantastic car and NAPA Auto Care team. Unfortunately, we’re still kind of reeling from Charlotte, but we’ve got three great races coming up that have been kind to our team in the past. That bodes well for us because I know Guido’s got a great tune-up for these next few events, so I’m confident we’ll continue to keep ourselves in the conversation heading into Pomona.”
Capps, who dropped just one spot to fourth in the Funny Car points standings, will attempt a rebound in two weeks at the Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 10-12, during the Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.
Qualified: No. 13 (3.982 E.T. at 324.05 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 10.014 E.T. at 73.35 MPH defeated by Bob Tasca 3.933 E.T. at 329.67 MPH
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After spending Thursday visiting NAPA and McKay Auto Parts customers, Capps started qualifying on Friday with a promising run, but the parachutes came out early, slowing him to a No. 10-ranked pass. On the second qualifying pass, his car got out of the groove and moved toward the center line, and during the third session, he went into tire shake early in the run. Crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli got the NAPA Auto Care machine back on track in the fourth qualifying session, sending Capps on a 3.982-second ride at 324.05 mph to end up No. 13 going into race day.
Capps’ first-round pairing with Bob Tasca III kicked off eliminations in the category, and Capps was clearly amped up for it. He left the starting line first with a .061-second reaction time, but went into tire smoke shortly after launching and had to watch as Tasca powered ahead for the win. It marked the first time Capps lost in the first round of eliminations since the New England Nationals in early June.
“We’ve had great success in the past here in St. Louis, but the Countdown is what it is,” said Capps, who’s the all-time win leader in Funny Car at World Wide Technology Raceway. “With NAPA and their involvement with the Midwest Nationals, we were hoping for a better points outcome for sure, but there were a lot of crazy matchups in eliminations. Points-wise, we didn’t get hurt too bad. We’ve got two races to put ourselves in position to go into Pomona with a chance to make a run for it.”
Capps, who won world championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022, isn’t one to dwell on a tough outing. Instead, he’s looking ahead at the final three races of the Countdown, culminating with the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, which is worth points-and-a-half.
“Dallas is one of those places where you can really make up a lot of ground, as well as Las Vegas,” Capps said. “The great thing is, we’ve got a fantastic car and NAPA Auto Care team. Unfortunately, we’re still kind of reeling from Charlotte, but we’ve got three great races coming up that have been kind to our team in the past. That bodes well for us because I know Guido’s got a great tune-up for these next few events, so I’m confident we’ll continue to keep ourselves in the conversation heading into Pomona.”
Capps, who dropped just one spot to fourth in the Funny Car points standings, will attempt a rebound in two weeks at the Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 10-12, during the Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.
Qualified: No. 13 (3.982 E.T. at 324.05 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 10.014 E.T. at 73.35 MPH defeated by Bob Tasca 3.933 E.T. at 329.67 MPH
The post Ron Capps Stays in the Game as Countdown Heats Up at NAPA Midwest Nationals appeared first on Ron Capp Motorsports.
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