NHRA Northwest Nationals Pre-Race Report
Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals
Event 11 of 21
Pacific Raceways
Kent, Wash.
July 21-23, 2023
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
NHRA Northwest Nationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion
Funny Car (1998, 2016, 2018)
Top Fuel (1995)
Five-time runner-up (2001, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2019)
Two-time No. 1 qualifier (1997, 2012)
2022 NHRA Northwest Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Robert Hight in E1)
Last Event (Denver):
Qualified fifth; Semifinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1, Robert Hight in E2; defeated by Matt Hagan in E3)
2023 Statistics:
10 races; one win, three runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
618 races; 74 wins, 37 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:NHRA Northwest Nationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion
Funny Car (1998, 2016, 2018)
Top Fuel (1995)
Five-time runner-up (2001, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2019)
Two-time No. 1 qualifier (1997, 2012)
2022 NHRA Northwest Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Robert Hight in E1)
Last Event (Denver):
Qualified fifth; Semifinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1, Robert Hight in E2; defeated by Matt Hagan in E3)
2023 Statistics:
10 races; one win, three runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
618 races; 74 wins, 37 No. 1 qualifiers
Won his first NHRA trophy in a professional class at the 1995 Seattle event while competing in the Top Fuel category
Capps has both Top Fuel and Funny Car wins from Seattle
A 74-time national event champion, Capps is seeking his milestone 75th career victory
As a member of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, Capps is vying to win Toyota’s 200th NHRA trophy (current Toyota NHRA win count: 199)
By advancing to the semifinals at the NHRA Mile-High Nationals, Capps earned a spot in the Seattle Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday
Capps is a two-time Mission Foods specialty race winner, having claimed the $10,000 prize and three championship bonus points in Joliet, Ill. and Norwalk, Ohio
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11:15 – 11:45 a.m., #2Fast2Tasty autograph session – Mission Foods midway display
Saturday, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Team Toyota autograph session – Toyota midway display
Quotable:
“This time of the year is always great with the West Coast Swing. Heading into Seattle, we’ll have the altitude change coming off of Denver. We’ll be back down to sea level and this is a track where we often see some of the best air with all of the trees surrounding the track. We’re looking at high 70s, low 80s right now with no chance of rain, which for our race fans in Seattle, those are fantastic conditions.
“I have a lot of great memories at Pacific Raceways. I won my first race in Top Fuel there my rookie year in 1995, and have had a lot of Funny Car success there as well throughout the years.
"I just couldn’t be prouder of our NAPA team. We’ve had a lot of people take shots at us, but when you have the No. 1 on your car, that’s to be expected. Our guys continually put a great race car underneath me. We’re looking forward to this weekend, and getting back there with our NAPA GR Supra to try and grab the No. 1 spot on Saturday and get as many points as we can, and hopefully, leave with the Wally once again. Great time of year for our fans, and I look forward to seeing them.”
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.
