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NHRA Norwalk Nationals Pre-Race Report
NHRA Norwalk Nationals
Event 9 of 21
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio
June 23 - 25, 2023
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
NHRA Norwalk Nationals Event Highlights:
2016 event champion
Three-time runner-up (2011, 2013, 2014)
Three-time No. 1 qualifier (2019, 2021, 2022)
2022 NHRA Norwalk Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Semifinal finish (defeated Dale Creasy Jr. in E1, Cruz Pedregon in E2; defeated by Bob Tasca in E3)
Last Event (Bristol):
Qualified second; Event champion (defeated Dave Richards in E1, John Force in E2, Chad Green in E3, Alexis DeJoria in E4)
2023 Statistics:
Eight races; one win, three runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
616 races; 74 wins; 37 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Powered to his first win of the season at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., the most recent event on tour
Moved into the Funny Car points lead for the first time this year following his Bristol triumph
Will participate in the Norwalk #2Fast2Tasty Challenge presented by Mission Foods on Saturday
Has earned the Funny Car pole position at the last three consecutive Norwalk outings (2019, 2021, 2022), and is seeking his fourth Norwalk No. 1 qualifier
Note: the NHRA did not compete in Norwalk in 2020
Became the first Funny Car pilot to drive the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car to the No. 1 qualifier position when he captured the pole at the 2022 event
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11 – 11:30 a.m., #2Fast2Tasty autograph session at the Mission Foods midway display
Quotable:NHRA Norwalk Nationals Event Highlights:
2016 event champion
Three-time runner-up (2011, 2013, 2014)
Three-time No. 1 qualifier (2019, 2021, 2022)
2022 NHRA Norwalk Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Semifinal finish (defeated Dale Creasy Jr. in E1, Cruz Pedregon in E2; defeated by Bob Tasca in E3)
Last Event (Bristol):
Qualified second; Event champion (defeated Dave Richards in E1, John Force in E2, Chad Green in E3, Alexis DeJoria in E4)
2023 Statistics:
Eight races; one win, three runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
616 races; 74 wins; 37 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Powered to his first win of the season at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., the most recent event on tour
Moved into the Funny Car points lead for the first time this year following his Bristol triumph
Will participate in the Norwalk #2Fast2Tasty Challenge presented by Mission Foods on Saturday
Has earned the Funny Car pole position at the last three consecutive Norwalk outings (2019, 2021, 2022), and is seeking his fourth Norwalk No. 1 qualifier
Note: the NHRA did not compete in Norwalk in 2020
Became the first Funny Car pilot to drive the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car to the No. 1 qualifier position when he captured the pole at the 2022 event
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11 – 11:30 a.m., #2Fast2Tasty autograph session at the Mission Foods midway display
“This is the part of the season where things heat up – both on the race track, and literally. Norwalk is one of the great venues on our circuit. You can’t say enough about the Bader family and what they do. It’s evident as soon as you walk in the gate and you see how many fans they have.
“Every year when we come here, this is where we really start to see a little bit warmer temperatures, hotter track conditions; it’s very demanding for crew chiefs and drivers to come together and figure out a way to get down a hot race track. This race certainly gears you up for the summer run of events.
"While it was great to get the win in Bristol and move into the points lead, we want to make sure we keep that momentum going, and 'Guido' (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and our NAPA Auto Parts team has done a great job of that. Toyota has given us great support, and we’ll definitely be relying on their help again this weekend to get down this tricky race track in the heat.”
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 73 wins in the category. His 74 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.
