Team Press Releases

MADISON, Ill. (St. Louis) – A semifinal loss to Leah Pruett Sunday ended at six Steve Torrence’s streak of consecutive final round appearances in the NHRA Midwest Nationals, turning what could have been a “get well weekend” into a “get a little better weekend” at World Wide Technology Raceway. Team CAPCO Competition Capsule From the 27th NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis, Mo. STEVE TORRENCE Qualifying position/performance: No. 5 at 3.733 seconds, 330.72 miles per hour. Qualifying bonus points: Two for second quick time in Q3. Race finish: Semifinalist Current points position: Third Race detail: Beat Josh Hart, 3.741, 329.42 mph to 10.184, 59.40 mph, Justin Ashley, 3.783, 322.50 mph to 3.815, 326.08 mph; lost to Leah Pruett, 3.825...

NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 Top Fuel: Justin Ashley Races to Midwest Nationals Quarterfinals Qualified: No. 4 (3.730 E.T. at 331.69 MPH) Elimination Round Results: E1: 3.769 E.T. at 330.96 MPH defeated T.J. Zizzo 5.507 E.T. at 119.79 MPH E2: 3.815 E.T. at 326.08 MPH defeated by Steve Torrence 3.783 E.T. at 322.50 MPH MADISON, Ill. (October 1, 2023) – Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster raced to the quarterfinals today and will enter the back half of the NHRA Countdown firmly in the Top Fuel championship chase. The fourth-year team owner and driver is 77 points out of first place with races in Dallas, Las...

NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 Ron Capps Takes NAPA Toyota GR Supra to Funny Car Final Round at St. Louis Qualified: No. 7 (3.952 E.T. at 324.90 MPH) Elimination Round Results: E1: 3.998 E.T. at 306.12 MPH defeated Tim Wilkerson 3.977 E.T. at 318.47 MPH E2: 4.066 E.T. at 308.78 MPH defeated Alex Laughlin 4.263 E.T. at 286.74 MPH E3: 4.014 E.T. at 323.35 MPH defeated Blake Alexander 4.803 E.T. at 176.28 MPH E4: 4.025 E.T. at 306.88 MPH defeated by Matt Hagan 3.991 E.T. at 324.90 MPH MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2023) – Reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps boosted his ‘Capps Trick’ campaign for a third consecutive title by racing...

NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 Tricky Track Stops Antron Brown in Second Round at NHRA Midwest Nationals Qualified: No. 3 (3.714 E.T. at 331.69 MPH) Elimination Round Results: E1: 3.718 E.T. at 333.99 MPH defeated Kyle Wurtzel 3.848 E.T. at 291.63 MPH E2: 3.896 E.T. at 290.69 MPH defeated by Tony Schumacher 3.808 E.T. at 327.43 MPH MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2023) – Antron Brown rolled into World Wide Technology Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals as the winningest nitro-class driver at the St. Louis-area facility. All signs were pointing to another victory until Brown’s pink Matco ‘Tools for the Cause’ Top Fuel dragster hazed the tires...

NHRA St. Louis Pre-Race Report NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 Noteworthy: JCM Racing’s new marketing partner, Leatherwood Distillery, will make its NHRA debut this weekend at the Midwest Nationals. Leatherwood Distillery branding will appear on Tony Schumacher and Tim Wilkerson’s entries for the remainder of the 2023 NHRA season. Top Fuel: JUSTIN ASHLEY: Driver of the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 3rd 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Recap: Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by Mike Salinas in E1) Last Event (Charlotte 2): Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by Leah...

NHRA St. Louis Pre-Race Report NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 3rd NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Highlights: Four-time event champion (1997, 2005, 2007, 2017) Two-time runner-up (2009, 2022) 2009 No. 1 qualifier 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Recap: Qualified third; Event runner-up (defeated Dan Wilkerson in E1, Cruz Pedregon in E2, John Force in E3; defeated by Robert Hight in E4) Last Event (Charlotte 2): Qualified fifth; First round exit (defeated by Dave Richards in E1) 2023 Statistics: 17 races; three wins, three runner-up...

NHRA St. Louis Pre-Race Report NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 ANTRON BROWN: Driver of the Matco's 'Tools for the Cause' Top Fuel Dragster Photo of last year's Matco's 'Tools for the Cause' Top Fuel dragster during the 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 5th NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Highlights: Five-time event champion (2009, 2012-2015) 2005 runner-up (Pro Stock Motorcycle) Two-time No. 1 qualifier Pro Stock Motorcycle (2001, 2004) 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Recap: Qualified ninth; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1) Last Event (Charlotte 2)...

NHRA St. Louis Pre-Race Report NHRA Midwest Nationals Event 18 of 21 Countdown Event 3 of 6 World Wide Technology Raceway Madison, Ill. Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, 2023 ALEXIS DEJORIA: Driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 6th 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals Event Recap: Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by J.R. Todd in E1) Last Event (Charlotte 2): Qualified 14th; First round exit (defeated by Bob Tasca in E1) 2023 Statistics: 17 races; three runner-up finishes Career Statistics: 211 races; six wins, six No. 1 qualifiers “It’s no secret our Countdown campaign hasn’t gone the way we had hoped. We’re holding strong in the No. 6 position, which is where we started the...

NHRA® Team Report NHRA Midwest Nationals – St. Louis Pre-Race Report Cruz Pedregon and his primary sponsor Snap-on are making the Countdown count by showcasing the work of the Pink Fund® (U.S.) and Kelly Shires Foundation (Canada) with a new, pink “Socket to Breast Cancer” paint scheme for the Snap-on® Dodge® SRT® Hellcat®. NHRA fans have all eyes on this year’s competitive Countdown, so Cruz’s matte black and two-toned pink striped Funny Car will further awareness of these organizations during breast cancer awareness month and one of the most popular times of the NHRA season. “This cause is meaningful to me since our family, like most families, has someone we care about who has had breast cancer. Having Countdown-level attention...