NHRA Finals Pre-Race Report
Auto Club NHRA Finals
Event 22 of 22
Countdown Event 6 of 6
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
Nov. 11-13, 2022
RON CAPPS: Driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Finals Event Highlights:
2008 runner-up
Capps is a four-time winner at the Spring event (1998, 2009, 2016, 2021)
Four-time No. 1 qualifier (1999, 2012, 2015, 2018)
2021 NHRA Finals Recap:
Qualified second; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1; defeated by Matt Hagan in E2)
2022 NHRA Winternationals Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Event runner-up (defeated John Force in E1, J.R. Todd in E2, Cruz Pedregon in E3; defeated by Robert Hight in E4)
Last Event (Las Vegas 2):
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Jim Campbell in E1; defeated by Bob Tasca in E2)
Career Statistics:
607 races; 73 wins; 34 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
21 races; five wins; three runner-up finishes; five No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Finals Event Highlights:
2008 runner-up
Capps is a four-time winner at the Spring event (1998, 2009, 2016, 2021)
Four-time No. 1 qualifier (1999, 2012, 2015, 2018)
2021 NHRA Finals Recap:
Qualified second; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1; defeated by Matt Hagan in E2)
2022 NHRA Winternationals Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Event runner-up (defeated John Force in E1, J.R. Todd in E2, Cruz Pedregon in E3; defeated by Robert Hight in E4)
Last Event (Las Vegas 2):
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Jim Campbell in E1; defeated by Bob Tasca in E2)
Career Statistics:
607 races; 73 wins; 34 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
21 races; five wins; three runner-up finishes; five No. 1 qualifiers
Two-time and defending NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps enters the weekend ranked second in the standings and with a 61-point deficit separating him from No. 1 ranked Robert Hight. No. 3 ranked Matt Hagan trails Capps by two points
Capps is pursuing a third series championship, and the first for Ron Capps Motorsports in its rookie season
If Capps and the NAPA team can stave off Hagan, and outperform Hight during qualifying to lower the point difference to less than 60, Capps’ road to a second consecutive championship will require him to go two rounds further than Hight on race day
A five-time winner in 2022, Capps has two triumphs and one runner-up finish in the Countdown
Capps kicked off his first season as an NHRA team owner by powering to a runner-up finish (def. by Hight) from the pole position at the 2022 season-opener in Pomona, Calif. earlier this year
Capps’ championship-winning co-crew chief John Medlen will enjoy his final weekend competing on the NHRA circuit as he has announced his retirement following the end of the season
As a lifelong Californian and resident of Carlsbad near San Diego, Capps considers Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to be a home track
Fan Events:
On Friday, Capps will join his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates for an autograph session at the Toyota Midway display from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Quotable:
“This is what every team has worked for all season long – to have a chance at winning the world championship come Sunday at the NHRA Finals in Pomona. It’s something you dream about it, but it’s something we’ve fought for all season. I’ve bragged about Guido (Dean Antonelli), (John) Medlen, and our entire NAPA AutoCare team and how they’ve not only thrown down great runs in great conditions, but have also won very tough races in tricky adverse conditions. Luckily, this weekend in Pomona, at one of the most historic tracks we visit, the weather is looking like it’ll be prime for one of those ‘throw-down weekends’ and I couldn’t ask for a better-prepared Toyota GR Supra from a better team. I can’t wait until Friday when we start qualifying, and I’ll get to step on the gas pedal and see what the track will hold. We’re battling two great teams for the championship with two great drivers and crew chiefs, and there’s no better seat in the house than mine, Hagan’s, and Hight’s. Our NAPA Toyota Supra team is looking forward to the challenge. We’re trying to steal the race win on Sunday. If we can accomplish that, we’ll be holding the big trophy at the end of the day and will go back-to-back for an NHRA world championship.”
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, 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, and 73 overall (1 Top Fuel). The 2022 NHRA season marks Capps’ 28th year competing in the sport’s professional ranks.
