betway NHRA Carolina Nationals
Event 17 of 21
Countdown Event 2 of 6
zMAX Dragway
Concord, N.C.
Sept. 22-24, 2023
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
Three-time event champion (2012, 2018, 2022)
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
Four-time winner
One No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Event champion (defeated Blake Alexender in E1, Bob Tasca in E2, John Force in E3, Alexis DeJoria in E4)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified second; Semifinal finish (defeated Dave Richards in E1, John Force in E2; defeated by Robert Hight in E3)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; three wins, three runner-up finishes, two No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
624 races; 76 wins, 38 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
Three-time event champion (2012, 2018, 2022)
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
Four-time winner
One No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Event champion (defeated Blake Alexender in E1, Bob Tasca in E2, John Force in E3, Alexis DeJoria in E4)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified second; Semifinal finish (defeated Dave Richards in E1, John Force in E2; defeated by Robert Hight in E3)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; three wins, three runner-up finishes, two No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
624 races; 76 wins, 38 No. 1 qualifiers
- Returns to zMAX Dragway as the defending NHRA Carolina Nationals event champion
- Capps’ 2022 Charlotte 2 victory was one of two Countdown triumphs in four final rounds, and was an integral part of his championship defense
- The second-year team owner and three-time Funny Car world champion is in pursuit of a third consecutive Funny Car title and fourth overall
- Capps began the Countdown from the No. 1 seed after winning the regular-season championship during the U.S. Nationals
- Capps slipped to second after falling to eventual race winner Robert Hight at the previous event in Reading, Pa. Capps enters the weekend a mere three points behind Hight, who finished runner-up to Capps at the conclusion of the 2022 season
- Reset the zMAX Dragway Funny Car speed record when he powered his NAPA Supra to a 335.57 mph during the Spring event earlier this season
- Will go head-to-head with Antron Brown in the Toyota ‘Supra Showdown’ finale on Saturday; Brown and Capps have been selected by their Toyota teammates to represent their classes in the season-long charity race
- Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Team Toyota autograph session at Toyota midway display
“Obviously, we see zMAX Dragway on the schedule twice a year and it puts a smile on everybody’s face because we know how well their staff treats the fans as well as the racers. It’s always a fantastic track; great facility. I’m bringing my mom to that race for the first time. It’ll be the first time she’s ever gone to an event at zMAX. So, looking forward to my mom hanging out and getting to spend the weekend with her, and hopefully ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and our NAPA AutoCare team can have another solid weekend like we did in Reading. We’re going into the race as the defending event champions and it sure would be nice to keep racking up the points.”
About Ron Capps Motorsports
Established in 2021, Ron Capps Motorsports is a single-car NHRA Funny Car team owned and operated by reigning and three-time world champion Ron Capps. Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., the team made its on-track debut in 2022 and competes on the 21-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of NAPA Auto Parts, Toyota, and GearWrench.Capps, who serves as both the owner and driver of his namesake operation, is the second-winningest Funny Car pilot in NHRA history with 75 wins in the category. His 76 overall wins (1 Top Fuel) rank sixth amongst NHRA’s four premier classes. The 2023 NHRA season marks Capps’ 29th year competing in the sport’s professional ranks.
