Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

Fast doorslammer racing returns to the launching place of Pro Modified.

Twenty-three years and seven months after the volatile doorslammer division made its professional debut at the IHRA Winternationals in Darlington, SC, this style of racing returns with a race series based on the fan-favorite division. 

The Professional Drag Racers Association [PDRA] resumes its tenth season with the Red Line Oil Carolina Nationals at Darlington Dragway, This event marks the sixth out of eight championship points-earning races on the PDRA's 2023 schedule.

There is just something magical about Brainerd International Raceway to Ron Capps.

Perhaps it is the pristine racing surface and race-favorable conditions. Maybe it is the friends, family and crew members that have such strong ties to the Minnesota area. Or, perhaps, it is the rabid fan base that flocks to the facility each year making up BIR’s famous “Zoo” camping area, with sections such as “Capps’ Corner” showcasing the dedication that these fans have to the sport.

Either way, Capps and BIR have a special relationship dating back several decades. Not only did the eventual Funny Car world champion get his start in the sport on its hallowed grounds, but Capps would go on to dominate at the facility in becoming the second-winningest pro at the track behind only John Force. 

If Pro Stock standout Dallas Glenn has proved anything in the 2023 NHRA season it is that he’s primed and ready to win his first world championship.

Glenn has been the most dominant driver in the highly competitive class and proved that again Sunday at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

Glenn clocked a 6.566-second elapsed time at 207.56 mph to defeat Kyle Koretsky, who slowed to 11.229 seconds after shaking the tires in the final round.

If you’re going to get your first, you might as well make it count for the most.

Pro Modified drag racer Jason Lee claimed his first win in the first event of the Road to the Championship by stopping Jason Scruggs in the final round of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

The monumental win also vaulted Lee into the points lead with only three races left in the season. 

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 - 

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:

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.