Capps Owns Bristol! | NitroFCCanada

Capps Owns Bristol!
Jun 17, 2023 // NHRA Event FC Results // editor

Fuel FC racing at Bristol’s Thunder Valley Nationals proved to be a monumental day for Ron Capps, as the defending back-to-back NHRA world champion became the all-time wins leader at Bristol.

Capps picking up his seventh win at the track after going 3.998 at 325.45 in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra in the final round against Alexis DeJoria. After three visits to the final round this season, it’s the first victory of the season for Capps, and with that also moved into the points lead with the win.

To reach the final round, Capps knocked off Dave Richards, John Force and Chad Green before coming up with his 74th career victory in impressive fashion.

Ron Capps became the most winning Pro driver for the Thunder Valley Nationals event (7th victory) when he won in fuel FC racing.

Alexis DeJoria had a strong final round placing – losing the final by a very narrow margin to Ron Capps

“We kept at, we’ve been close – three final rounds – should have been a win already but this is probably the most demanding racetrack there is to drive a Funny Car and I think anybody will tell you that that drives one,” Capps said. “I probably cost us a couple qualifying runs, I just couldn’t hold onto it and keep it in the middle and thankfully I got my act together on Sunday. It’s such a relief to see that Wally again. I honestly can tell people, you never know if you’re going to see it again. That’s how tough it is.

“I think any driver who has success somewhere will tell you, you just feel the mojo. It’s hard to explain it, but I’ve won here with different crew chiefs, different sponsors, different owners. I can’t really pinpoint it, I just know the very first year we ever came here, from the get-go it’s been a love affair with this area. This feels like a second home.”

It’s the second final round this year for DeJoria and the 14th in her career after she knocked off Cruz Pedregon, Bobby Bode and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight.

Bob Tasca III won the event’s #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge specialty race.

Funny Car Racing Event Summary – Thunder Valley Nationals

Matt Hagan roared to top speed of the meet for FC racing at Bristol at 330.23 mph.

WIN: Ron Capps 3.998 secs 325.45 mph (Career win #74)
R/UP: Alexis DeJoria 3.999 secs 326.48 mph
Low ET: Robert Hight 3.913 secs
Top MPH: Matt Hagan 330.27 mph
Bump: 4.182
Entries – 18 cars

For the 2nd weekend in a row – Robert Hight – set low ET of the event.

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

All photos by Dave DeAngelis

Link to the LMLCMedia event photo gallery from Bristol: HERE

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