Defending Gatornats Funny Car Champ Ron Capps Takes Provisional No. 1 Spot at NHRA Season-Opener

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NHRA Gatornationals Qualifying Report​ NHRA Gatornationals Event No. 1 of 22 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, Fla. March 12-14, 2021 DSR Qualifying Highlights: Defending Gatornationals Funny Car event champion Ron Capps powered the NAPA Dodge to the provisional No. 1 spot on Friday evening Capps’ Q1 run marked his competition debut with new co-crew chiefs Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli and John Medlen Mark Pawuk (8th) and Leah Pruett (6th) each earned top-seeded provisional qualifying positions in a competitive 29-car Factory Stock Showdown field The 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak made its NHRA debut with Pruett behind the wheel Pruett opened the 2021 NHRA season with double-duty responsibilities, campaigning entries in both the Factory Stock and Top Fuel categories Defending Gatornats Funny Car Champ Ron Capps Takes Provisional No. 1 Spot at NHRA Season-Opener GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 12, 2021) – The defending NHRA Gatornationals Funny Car event champ picked up right where he left off since his last time visiting Gainesville, Fla. during the 2020 NHRA season. Behind the wheel of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Ron Capps powered his machine to a blistering 3.895-second at 329.02 mph pass to capture the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season-opener. Out of 18 Funny Cars on the property, Capps’ NAPA Dodge was the only flopper to dip into the 3.8-second zone during Friday’s lone qualifying session. The run was especially significant since it marked Capps’ competition debut with his new team led by his new co-crew chiefs Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli and John Medlen. “I talked about testing last week and how it went that first time with this team, and it just feels great,” Capps said of his newly adopted team following former crew chief Rahn Tobler’s retirement announcement during the off-season. “We ran two 3.89s at testing last week, so it’s almost like we can dial-in a bracket car here so far. I’m honestly tickled. I feel like a rookie, I just want to make Guido, John, Don Schumacher, and the whole team proud. We already knew this was a great car. This is a team that battled for a championship the past few seasons with Jack Beckman driving. They ran great E.T.s and speeds and won a lot of races. There’s not a lot I can do other than be myself and drive the car the best I can. I just wanted the car to prove itself and let Guido and John Medlen do their thing. There are so many things that are different to adjust to, but I’m getting more comfortable in the car. Unloading with a provisional No. 1 qualifier is great for NAPA, GEARWRENCH, Pennzoil, and all that support us. What a perfect time to go up and show up.” With two qualifying rounds scheduled for Saturday, Capps and the NAPA team will be looking to hang on to their position at the top of the field as Capps seeks to pick up his first Gatornationals No. 1 qualifier and 26th overall. Capps is a four-time Gainesville event champion and, along with teammate Matt Hagan, will be vying to keep DSR’s undefeated streak of 14 consecutive Funny Car triumphs alive as he attempts to go back-to-back on Sunday. Provisional Qualfying Position: No. 1 The Results: Q1: 3.895 E.T. at 329.02 MPH Bonus Points: Three Driver Information: Top Fuel: ANTRON BROWN Driver of the Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster Provisional Qualfying Position: No. 12 The Results: Q1: 4.308 E.T. at 187.18 MPH LEAH PRUETT Driver of the Mopar Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster Provisional Qualfying Position: No. 17 The Results: Q1: 6.567 E.T. at 94.57 MPH Funny Car: MATT HAGAN Driver of the Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Provisional Qualfying Position: No. 10 The Results: Q1: 4.308 E.T. at 209.62 MPH Factory Stock Showdown Series: MARK PAWUK Driver of the Empaco Equipment Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Provisional Qualifying Position: No. 8 The Results: Q1: 8.008 E.T. at 172.81 MPH LEAH PRUETT Driver of the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Provisional Qualifying Position: No. 6 The Results: Q1: 7.966 E.T. at 175.09 MPH

​ ​ About Don Schumacher Racing: Established in 1998 as a single-car Top Fuel team, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) has grown to become the winningest organization in NHRA Drag Racing history, and further cemented its position as one of motorsports’ elite teams when it surpassed the ‘350 wins’ milestone during the 2020 season. DSR owns 18 world championships in three different NHRA categories, and including hall-of-fame team owner Don Schumacher’s five NHRA Funny Car triumphs from the 1970s, DSR has been successful in capturing 358 national event victories overall. Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, DSR fields four professional teams competing in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Three-time world champion Antron Brown, and double-duty driver Leah Pruett headline DSR’s Top Fuel dragster team. DSR’s two Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars are driven by 2016 Funny Car world champion Ron Capps, and Matt Hagan, who earned his third NHRA series title in 2020. DSR also campaigns two entries in the Factory Stock Showdown Series. The duo of DSR Dodge Drag Paks is piloted by Pruett, the 2018 series champion, and former Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk. For more information, visit shoeracing.com, or Follow Us @shoeracing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Media Contact: Allison McCormick Public Relations Manager Don Schumacher Racing [email protected] (305) 764-5377