Resiliency is such an inadequate word when it comes to describing Ron Capps’ rebound at the NHRA Winternationals at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California.
Should Capps maintain his position, it will mark his first No. 1 qualifier of 2025 and the 38th of his career, carrying added significance due to the events of last Sunday in Phoenix. Brittany Force (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers at this third event of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
It’s been less than a week since the NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored Capps blew his Toyota Funny Car to smithereens during the first round at the NHRA Arizona Nationals and came to a halt after a side impact with the retaining wall of Firebird Motorsports Park.
Capps made the quickest run of both sessions at Pomona, clocking 3.830 seconds at 328.94 mph.
“I’m pretty beat up and sore and bruised up and just wanted to get back in the car,” Capps said. “I just couldn’t wait for today … Before I knew it, I made the run, and they came on the radio and said, ‘You’re the No. 1 qualifier.’”
Capps expressed deep respect for his team’s dedication amid challenges.
“I’ve never, never, ever had any doubt … they’ve hardly slept,” he added.
Reigning world champion Austin Prock is in second place after a run of 3.837, 333.25. His teammate, Jack Beckman, follows closely in third with a time of 3.855 at 326.40.
In Top Fuel, Force took the early lead in the first session, running 3.646 seconds at 334.82 mph in her Monster Energy dragster. This performance marked the fastest eighth-mile run in NHRA history at 301.67 mph, potentially securing her 53rd career No. 1 qualifier.
“It’s tough when you come into an event and go right into a race without any chance to qualify or make some runs,” Force noted. “We’re off to a good start. … Winning is the ultimate goal. This is my home track, and I’d love to win here.”
In Pro Stock, Anderson distinguished himself with the only run in the 6.40s, posting 6.495 seconds at 210.01 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. This achievement places him as the quickest Pro Stock qualifier in Winternationals history.
Anderson is pursuing his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 134th of his career. “I’ve got a small part of that, and probably prouder of that than … my car went to No. 1 because it’s hard to do that to make them all run good,” he said.
Matt Hartford currently stands second with 6.510, 209.14 mph, while Aaron Stanfield is in third, clocking 6.515 seconds at 210.28.
Qualifying continues at noon PDT on Saturday at the 65th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
