It was a Father’s Day to remember for Mopar Dodge//SRT driver Ron Capps who raced to victory in the Funny Car division during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee. Capps’ victory marked the fifth straight for a Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver at Bristol Dragway.

The win by Capps was also the third of 2018 for a Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Funny Car driver and moved him to fifth in the Funny Car standings.

Capps, the Mopar-powered NAPA Dodge Charger R/T pilot, picked up his second consecutive NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Funny Car Wally and first trophy of the 2018 season. The 2016 world champion defeated John Force, reigning world champ Robert Hight, J.R. Todd and Bob Tasca III on his way to becoming the most decorated Funny Car driver in Bristol Dragway history, with five victories at the picturesque facility.

Defending NHRA World Champion Ron Capps found his winning ways again at Bristol International Raceway — scoring his 5th career title at the marquee facility!

Both Capps and Force entered the race weekend tied for the most Funny Car wins at Bristol Dragway, with four trophies each. No. 11 starter Capps was quick on the throttle against the veteran driver, launching his Dodge off the starting line in 0.049-seconds and never trailing for the win. Matched up in the quarterfinals against Hight, Capps was machine-like, gaining the holeshot start over his opponent. Hight was able to catch up early in the run, and the veteran drivers battled neck-and-neck until Capps was able to surge ahead and take the win with his 4.208 run.

Capps made a clean pass against Todd in the semifinals, driving right down the groove to take the win and advance to his second final round of the season and second in three races. Capps has now run for the Funny Car trophy 112 times — second only to John Force in Funny Car career final-round appearances.

In the finals, Capps quickly made up a small starting line advantage by Tasca and added to his lead all the way down to the finish stripe. The victory earned him his 58th Funny Car win, 59th overall and a milestone 300th nitro event Wally for DSR.

New England’s Bob Tasca III had a strong runner-up placing driving the Motorcraft Ford Mustang

Event Essentials:   NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (June 15-17th, 2018) 

Courtney Force had another speedy event — she set both low ET and top speed while placing in the semi final round.

JR Todd remained a top contender – he too went to the “final four” in fuel FC

Cruz Pedregon – who won rather recently just up the road at Concord NC – qualified #5 but was knocked out of competition by Tasca in round two.

Jim Campbell (driver for Jim Dunn Racing) gets set!

Posted with files by Darren Jacobs and Bruce Biegler

Photos by Luke Nieuwhof (www.DragNews.com.au)