Houston Pre-Race Report
NHRA SpringNationals
Event 5 of 22
Houston Raceway Park
Baytown, Texas
April 22 – 24, 2022
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car
Houston Highlights:
Four-time event winner (2006, 2007, 2015, 2017)
Three-time runner-up (2012, 2020, 2021)
2021 Houston Recap:
Qualified third; runner-up finish (defeated Paul Lee in E1, Matt Hagan in E2, Tim Wilkerson in E3; defeated by Robert Hight in E4)
Last Event (Las Vegas 1):
Qualified No. 1; Event champion (defeated Tim Wilkerson, Jason Rupert in E1, J.R. Todd, Bob Tasca in E2, Matt Hagan, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria in E3)
Career Statistics:
590 races; 69 event wins (one Top Fuel); 31 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
Four races; one win; one runner-up finish; two No. 1 qualifiers
Houston Highlights:
Four-time event winner (2006, 2007, 2015, 2017)
Three-time runner-up (2012, 2020, 2021)
2021 Houston Recap:
Qualified third; runner-up finish (defeated Paul Lee in E1, Matt Hagan in E2, Tim Wilkerson in E3; defeated by Robert Hight in E4)
Last Event (Las Vegas 1):
Qualified No. 1; Event champion (defeated Tim Wilkerson, Jason Rupert in E1, J.R. Todd, Bob Tasca in E2, Matt Hagan, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria in E3)
Career Statistics:
590 races; 69 event wins (one Top Fuel); 31 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
Four races; one win; one runner-up finish; two No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
This weekend’s race marks the final NHRA Camping World Series event at Houston Raceway Park
Capps enters the race weekend fresh off of a win from the pole at the most recent race in Las Vegas, which was the first event victory for the defending series champion in his new role as a team owner
Throughout the first four races in 2022, Capps has already recorded a race win, a runner-up finish, and two No. 1 qualifiers
At the 2021 SpringNationals, Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team closed out their weekend with a runner-up finish, and are looking to take it one step further at their final Houston outing.
Quotable:
“Going to the final race at Houston Raceway Park is a little surreal. My rookie year was 1995 when I was competing in Top Fuel, and I remember going there then, and even before that, I went there as a crew member for a Top Alcohol Dragster team so I’ve been going to Baytown a long time. I have so many great memories from Houston, and on top of that, I’m fortunate to have just been privy to so many special moments there. Conditions are always so good, and if the weather is right, that track will hold anything a crew chief will throw at it. Knowing what Guido (Dean Antonelli) and John Medlen are capable of, and knowing the power our NAPA AutoCare team makes, I’m excited to see what we can do there this weekend. Looks like the weather will be great, and the fans are already packing the place in, so would love for nothing better than to win the last race at that track.”
About Ron Capps Motorsports
Established in 2021, Ron Capps Motorsports is a single-car NHRA Funny Car team owned and operated by reigning and two-time world champion Ron Capps. Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., the team made its on-track debut in 2022, and competes on the 22-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of NAPA AUTO PARTS.Capps, who serves as both the owner and driver of his namesake operation, is the second-winningest Funny Car pilot in NHRA history with 68 wins in the category, and 69 overall (1 Top Fuel). The 2022 NHRA season marks Capps’ 28th year competing in the sport’s professional ranks.
