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NHRA Gatornationals Pre-Race Report
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion (2006, 2007, 2015, 2020)
Two-time runner-up (2000, 2016)
2021 No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified 10th; Semifinal finish (defeated Bob Tasca in E1, John Force in E2; defeated by Blake Alexander in E3)
Last Event (Pomona 2 2022):
Qualified No. 1; Event runner-up (defeated Jeff Arend in E1, Tim Wilkerson in E2, Bob Tasca in E3; defeated by Cruz Pedregon in E4)
Career Statistics:
608 races; 73 wins; 35 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
22 races; five wins; six No. 1 qualifiers
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion (2006, 2007, 2015, 2020)
Two-time runner-up (2000, 2016)
2021 No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified 10th; Semifinal finish (defeated Bob Tasca in E1, John Force in E2; defeated by Blake Alexander in E3)
Last Event (Pomona 2 2022):
Qualified No. 1; Event runner-up (defeated Jeff Arend in E1, Tim Wilkerson in E2, Bob Tasca in E3; defeated by Cruz Pedregon in E4)
Career Statistics:
608 races; 73 wins; 35 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
22 races; five wins; six No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
2023 marks Capps’ sophomore season as an NHRA team owner. As the reigning world champ, the owner/driver is seeking his third consecutive Camping World Series Funny Car title - and fourth overall - after winning the 2022 championship during Ron Capps Motorsports rookie season.
Capps could achieve his 50th round win for Ron Capps Motorsports in Gainesville. He enters the weekend with 46 round wins since branching out on his own
Capps’ next final round appearance will be his 10th since forming RCM.
Looking to tie former boss Don Prudhomme’s five Gainesville Funny Car wins, which would make him the second-winningest Funny Car driver in the track’s history
Reset the Gainesville Raceway Funny Car speed record in 2022 by clocking a 336.23 mph pass.
Fan Events:
Capps will join his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates at the Toyota midway display from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday for a Team Toyota autograph session.
Quotable:
“A lot of teams tested the last month or so, and this week was our first time back on the track in 2023. Leading into the race we had a little more time this season, and obviously we’re going to be at a different track to start the year, so a lot of things different but a lot of things still staying the same. With John Medlen retiring, it’s not easy to replace someone like that but I think Guido (Dean Antonelli) did a great job of putting everyone in different positions and bringing on a couple new crew members to our NAPA team.
“I’m excited about being back in the car. I’ve been seeing all of these other drivers on social media making hits in their cars during testing all off-season and I’m excited we’re finally back at it now too. The weather is looking awesome; it’s going to be warm, it’s going to be tricky. The Gatornationals is a historic race so I’d love nothing more than to win this weekend and get the season started off on a good note.”
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 72 wins in the category. His 73 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.
