Ron Capps made history Sunday, becoming the all-time wins leader at Bristol Dragway with a victory over Paul Lee in the final round of the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Capps’ victory, which snapped a 33-race drought, was his eighth at the track, allowing him to surpass Tony Schumacher for the most wins in Bristol history.
Also winning on the rain-hampered Sunday were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Ricky Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Capps clocked a final run of 3.957 seconds at 328.06 mph in his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra, showcasing a strong performance after struggling in recent races. This triumph, his first since Indianapolis in 2023, moved him to fourth place in the points standings.
“We’re a single-car team, and we can’t lean on other teams so it’s been a little more difficult,” Capps said. “Even when we were struggling, I never once questioned Guido” – his crew chief, Dean Antonelli.
Capps defeated Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd, and Dave Richards on his way to the finals, turning in a classic performance. “This is a grueling track … it makes you feel like you’ve won a championship,” he added.
Paul Lee reached the final for the third time this season with wins over Chad Green, Buddy Hull, and Daniel Wilkerson to climb to second in the standings. Austin Prock was able to retain the Funny Car points lead despite a first-round loss for the second week in a row.
In Top Fuel, the four-time world champion Torrence secured his first win in nearly a year, defeating Justin Ashley with a run of 4.022 seconds at 325.37 mph. His last victory was in July 2023 at Seattle.
Torrence advanced past Dan Mercier, Clay Millican, and points leader Tony Stewart before dispatching Ashley.
“This was a tough day. The conditions were really tricky and I knew I had to be consistent,” Torrence said.
Torrence remains seventh in the points standings, but demonstrated potential for a championship run. “That’s a testament to (crew chief) Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana,” he added.
Ashley recorded his third final round of the season after defeating Antron Brown, Brittany Force, and Shawn Langdon. Stewart continues to hold the top position by 76 points.
In Pro Stock, Anderson celebrated his 1,000th round win in the semifinals, then knocked off teammate Dallas Glenn with a run of 6.623, 205.91, in the finals. It was Anderson’s fourth victory of the season.
Anderson earned the milestone round win at the track where he earned his first Pro Stock victory in 2001. “This is pretty magical … I’m having too much damn fun right now,” he said.
Glenn, who qualified No. 1, reached the finals for the sixth time in seven races this season.
Gadson secured his first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory, defeating teammate Gaige Herrera with a run of 6.884 seconds. Gadson’s performance was marked by a strong .014-second reaction time that secured his win.
Gadson previously came up short in four finals but thrived in Bristol, defeating Charles Poskey in the first round, advancing with a bye run in Round Two, and going to the finals when Chase Van Sant red-lighted in the semis.
“This has been hands down the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done,” Gadson said.
Herrera, who reached the finals for the third time this year, remains in the points lead.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues June 20-22 with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond, Va.
