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NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER 2023 NHRA LUCAS OIL NATIONALS

Point standings (top 10) following the 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 14th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series - 

ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS FROM 2023 NHRA LUCAS OIL NATIONALS

Final round-by-round results from the 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 14th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:

CAPPS, BROWN AND GLENN POST BRAINERD WINS

 

Ron Capps, the defending Funny Car world champion, claimed his 75th career win on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, solidifying his position as the new points leader in the 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series continued with Antron Brown securing victory in the Top Fuel category, while Dallas Glenn emerged as the winner in the Pro Stock class.

In the Final Round, Capps clocked a time of 3.887 seconds at 332.75 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, surpassing Robert Hight’s 3.900 at 324.90 mph. This marked Capps’ second win of the 2023 season and his seventh career win at Brainerd International Raceway, the second-most in NHRA history for the facility. 

Capps defeated Jim Campbell, Tim Wilkerson, and Bob Tasca III to reach the final round and secure his milestone victory. As the current points leader, Capps heads to Indy with a 21-point advantage.

PALMER INJURED IN DRAG RACING ACCIDENT

 

Scott Palmer suffered a crash behind the wheel of his Nitro-burning Studebaker at Mid-America Raceway in Missouri.

ASHLEY UNSEATS KALITTA IN FINAL SESSION TO PACE TOP FUEL FIELD IN BRAINERD

 

Despite six wins this season and a runaway lead in the Top Fuel championship, Justin Ashley found out on Saturday that even he can still be surprised.

With the Top Fuel field seemingly set entering the final qualifying session Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway, Ashley hit a fastball right out of the park with a blistering 3.746-second lap at 328.14 mph in his Phillip’s Connect dragster on a day where few improved to take a surprise No. 1 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

ANDERSON BACK ON TOP, SECURES FIRST NO. 1 OF SEASON

 

Greg Anderson will be the first person to admit that this season has been one for the young guns.

With Anderson and Erica Enders -- winners of the last four championships in the Pro Stock category -- struggling during the early part of the schedule, names like Camrie Caruso, Troy Coughlin Jr., Dallas Glenn and Deric Kramer have filled the void, collecting Wallys and dominating the conversation.

But, as they say in life, you can’t keep a good man -- or woman -- down.

ASHLEY SLIPS BY FOR 2ND 2023 NO. 1 QUALIFIER; CAPPS, ANDERSON HOLD ON TO TOP SPOTS IN BRAINERD

 

Justin Ashley, Ron Capps, and Greg Anderson emerged as the No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 14th race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. 

Ashley’s dominant performance on Saturday at Brainerd Raceway solidified his position at the top as he blazed down the track in his Phillips Connect/Toyota dragster, clocking an impressive time of 3.746 seconds at 328.14 mph. Despite the expected cooler conditions on raceday, Ashley’s outstanding qualifying run sent a clear message to his rivals. 

“That’s a stout run with the conditions what they were,” Ashley said. “Nothing surprises me with the team that we have, but nonetheless, it was going to be tough to go out there and run as well as we did. It really just speaks volumes of our team. It’s kind of a unique situation because I’m not sure how much you can actually take of that and apply it tomorrow. It’s going to be cooler, much different out there tomorrow. But we positioned ourselves the best we can heading into raceday.

BROWN, HIGHT AND ENDERS BREAK THROUGH WITH FIRST #2FAST2TASTY WINS IN BRAINERD

Top Fuel standout Antron Brown secured his long-awaited victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, triumphing over defending world champion Brittany Force in the finals of the bonus event at Brainerd International Raceway on Saturday. The race, part of the 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, showcased three first-time winners, including Robert Hight in Funny Car and Erica Enders in Pro Stock.

In an intense final round, Brown piloted his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools/Toyota dragster to victory with a clocking of 3.840 seconds at 292.01 mph. Earlier in the day, he had already vanquished points leader Justin Ashley before overcoming Force. As a three-time world champion, Brown eyes the opportunity to claim another win on Sunday in Brainerd and clinch his second event victory this season.

TOP FUEL CLASS TAKES CONTROL OF ITS OWN DESTINY DURING FRIDAY QUALIFYING

 

The NHRA’s Top Fuel class pulled an end-around on the NHRA during Friday night qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., deciding not to run the second session in the interest of safety and in the wake of what the teams determined was inaction by sanctioning-body officials.

Crew chiefs and team owners sacrificed the best qualifying conditions of the weekend at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) and collectively decided not to run on the 1,000-foot course after a 50-minute oildown clean-up robbed them not only of daylight but also a safe racing surface. BIR doesn’t have lighting along its dragstrip.

CAPPS CALLS HIS SHOT, JUMPS TO TOP OF FUNNY CAR FIELD FRIDAY AT LUCAS OIL NATS

 

Ron Capps came ready to race this weekend.

So when an issue with the wheelie bar on his 11,000-horsepower nitro-powered machine forced him to abort his first round of qualifying Friday at Brainerd International Raceway, he was far from happy.

But instead of allowing a poor start to derail the weekend before it ever began, Capps rallied the troops, sat down with crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli and decided this was no time to play it safe.

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