Ron Capps became the first 2019 repeat winner in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car competition when he took the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to victory in the second annual Virginia NHRA Nationals near Richmond.

Capps followed his Atlanta triumph two weeks ago with a run through the Funny Car field on an extremely warm day in Virginia to score his 63rd career victory and his 30th win with crew chief Rahn Tobler and his first Wally at Virginia Motorsports Park. The victory was also the third this season for a DSR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car pilot.

En route to the historic win Capps knocked out fellow DSR and Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson, Jr. in the semifinals while Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon and Jim Campbell also competed Sunday in Mopar-powered Funny Cars.

Racing this special edition Napa Dodge Hellcat – Ron Capps continued his current hot streak.

The march to victory for Capps in his NAPA Dodge began with a stout run in the opening round of 3.997 seconds at 313.58 mph to dispatch Jim Campbell, who smoked the tires approximately 300 feet into his run. Up next for Capps was a battle with current point leader Robert Hight in round two. This one was all about reaching the finish line first and the former champions staged a classic pedalfest with both cars losing traction multiple times, but it was Capps that was able to reach 1000 feet first. His lap of 6.173 was enough to advance for another semifinal match-up with Tommy Johnson, Jr. where Capps took the starting line advantage and pulled away for the victory despite losing a cylinder as Johnson went up in smoke just after the hit and never recovered.

In his 121 st career final, Capps was not to be denied as he left first on reigning Funny Car champion J.R. Todd and posted his second-best run of the day at 4.097 to capture the win. The victory moves Capps up to eighth all-time in wins with 63 and allowed him to jump from seventh to third in the championship standings.

Virginia native Matt Hagan ran this special edition Hellcat body which reflects back to one of his earliest career sponsors – Shelor Motor Mile.

Event Essentials:   NHRA Virginia Nationals (May 17-19th, 2019) 

Racing for team owner Jim Head – Sweden’s Jonnie Lindberg had his best finish of the season – going to the “final four” on Sunday

Tim Wilkerson debuted this stunning looking – 40th Anniversary LRS — Ford Mustang.

John Force (left) and JR Todd both ran strong at VMP – Force qualified #1 with low ET of the race and JR Todd advanced to championship final round.

Posted with files by Bill Klingbell and Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bruce Biegler & Dave DeAngelis