Some seasons in Ron Capps’ decorated NHRA Funny Car driving career have started slow and he’s been forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.
Well, that’s not the case in 2026.
Through four national events, Capps has already won twice.
Capps’ latest trip to Victory Lane came Sunday at the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, N.C.
Capps clocked a 3.905-second time at 334.90 mph to defeat Jack Beckman (3.917 seconds), Matt Hagan (3.947), and J.R. Todd (4.05) in the final-round quad.
“I still can’t believe it. You have cars like this at times in your career, and you just don’t want to mess up as a driver. It sounds funny, it sounds strange, but you’re given something that leaves the trailer, with Guido’s [crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli| blessing, and all the knobs turn the right direction to go win a race,” Capps said. “And any driver will tell you this, and if they don’t, they’re lying. But it’s like you’re driving this to not screw up, and to cut a light, and most importantly, drive it. Keep it as straight as possible. It’s not probable to do that time and time again. These things are just so out of control. So as long as I’ve been driving, it’s been that sort of thing. But when you have a car like I’ve had all weekend, and especially leading into the final, as good as it is, you know it’s capable of winning.
“All four of us, just veterans, focused. It was such a cool moment. And I watched when Hagan … When Hagan started getting dressed, you see J.R. saw him, he started to get dressed. I saw J.R., I started getting dressed, and went right back to Beckman. And it was just a very cool moment with a lot of people that we raced for championships and wins here in the last 20-something years. That was a lot of fun.”
The win was Capps’ 79th career Wally – 78 in Funny Car, and one in Top Fuel in Seattle in 1995. His other 2026 victory came in Phoenix on March 22. A year ago, Capps only had one win (Bristol, Tenn.).
“I am still hurting from the loss in Pomona to Hagan,” Capps said. “That was … It hurt worse when I saw that trophy for the 1,000th Funny Car win, because I love the sport. I grew up on it. And not that Matt doesn’t appreciate it, but it really … that was, like, the one. If I could get one and trade a lot of them for one, that was the one. And it was such a close race. Neither of us knew who was going to win.”
Capps’ weekend started off on the right foot with a No. 1 qualifying effort of 3.865 seconds at 333 mph.
“The secret to this success is just surrounding yourself with great people,” said Capps, who will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s Class of 2027 it was announced last week. “I’ve been that way my whole career. I can’t believe I have as many trophies as I have, and it’s with all great people. The great Roland Leong taught me a lot about racing, how to be a great racer overall and a great person while you’re doing it, and to really respect everybody. Guido and the NAPA Auto Care guys gave me a great car today and I just didn’t want to mess anything up.”
With his win Sunday, Capps increased his lead in the points standings to 48 over Hagan.
Capps started the season as the No. 1 qualifier at the Gatornationals, won the Arizona Nationals, reached the final round at the Winternationals, and now has won the 4-Wide Nationals.
“This all happens in December. I said that in Phoenix,” said Capps, one of the recent additions to NHRA’s Top 75 Drivers list. “It’s all the effort during the off weeks. To add a team like we did with Maddi [Gordon] and to watch that all come together with the partners we have like NAPA Auto Parts and Carlyle Tools and then Monster Energy coming on board, it’s special. We had Casey [VanKeuren] from Monster Energy here. She brings good luck for us all the time. We also had NAPA Premium Brakes Booster with Motorcar Parts of America, and Okuma on board this weekend. Maddi and I get to go visit NAPA headquarters this week, and to take this 75th anniversary diamond Wally there is going to be pretty awesome.”
Following the midweek trip to NAPA Auto Parts headquarters in Atlanta, Capps and team will roll into South Georgia Motorsports Park for the first time as it hosts the NHRA Southern Nationals from May 1-3.
Despite SGMP being the new track to the national circuit, Capps isn’t worried about what his team can accomplish.
“I never worry. We can go testing in the middle of nowhere and it doesn’t bother me,” Capps said. “I just rely so much on Guido. Guido is … we have so much confidence.”
