Things came together at the perfect time for Blake Alexander in Funny Car during the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, as he defeated points leader Matt Hagan in the final round, going 3.935 at 321.96 in his Pronto Ford Mustang. Not only was it Alexander’s first win since 2018, but he also earned his first career Funny Car victory.

He had picked up two victories in Top Fuel five years ago, including a 2018 triumph also at Summit Motorsports Park, but had yet to find the winner’s circle in Funny Car.

That all changed on Sunday after he defeated Tim Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria and No. 1 qualifier Bob Tasca III to reach the final round. He went 3.924 to defeat Tasca and then drove past Hagan with a stellar showing a round later, picking up his third career victory. He also becomes just the 18th driver in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

“I woke up today and I saw my wife and my son, and I knew I was in the right place and I was supposed to be here – I just didn’t know what was going to happen today,” Alexander said. “But everything went well, and I’m very blessed to work with the people I work with and have the sponsors I have. I put in a lot of work to get here, but you have to drive the car well and do everything else well once you show up. I could feel it today.

“I haven’t won one of these in five years. I try hard because the people I compete against have made it so that you have to be better. If you don’t want to get better, you’re going to get beat out here. I tried to get better and I needed to get better once I started racing Funny Car.”

Hagan knocked off Dale Creasy Jr., Robert Hight and J.R. Todd to reach the final round for the fourth time in 2023 and the 83rd time overall. Hagan jumped back in the points lead and he currently leads Ron Capps by four points.

Saturday’s event schedule for racing did included the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.

For the 2nd time this season it was Ron Capps who prevailed.

Capps powered to a run of 3.887-seconds at 327.74 mph in the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, defeating Hight to claim the victory. The points leader continues to enjoy a strong June, winning in Bristol two weeks ago and now the specialty race on Saturday in Norwalk, beating Chad Green in the earlier round. He also qualified No. 2 for Sunday’s race.
 
“You’re racing for what’s very important – those (bonus) points,” Capps said. “Winning a championship by two (points) last year tells you how important these points are. It’s not cliché. Your life is upside or awesome depending on one or two points in the landscape of Funny Car in NHRA, so we’ll take this.
 
“Mission Foods has changed the way we approach the weekend. You’re bummed if you don’t make it to the semifinals of a race because you know you’re not in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. If you go to the semis on Sunday and don’t win the race, you’re bummed, but you know you get to be in the challenge at the very next race. It’s a really big deal, and it’s fun. It really brought Saturdays to life.”

Funny Car Racing Event Summary – Summit Racing Equipment Nationals

WIN: Blake Alexander 3.935 secs 321.96 mph (Career win #3)
R/UP: Matt Hagan 3.991 327.90 mph
Low ET: Bob Tasca III 3.884 secs
Top MPH: Bob Tasca III 331.28 mph
Bump: 4.148
Entries – 17 cars

To view more FC racing images from NHRA Norwalk link to LMLCMedia photo gallery: HERE

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

Photos by Dave DeAngelis