Ron Capps Dominates to Secure Runner-Up Spot in Dallas

Ron Capps finishes runner-up at the Texas NHRA FallNationals after a premature parachute deployment in the final against points leader Austin Prock at the Texas Motorplex.

Sunday’s result denies the Wally, key playoff points, and the Texas cowboy hat, marking Capps’ second straight Dallas runner-up and fifth at the venue.

He remains fourth in Funny Car standings after the fourth event of the six-race Countdown, trimming the gap but still needing a decisive win in Las Vegas.

Qualifying pace underpins the weekend. Capps opens with a 3.965-second, 327.84-mph run in Q1, banking a bonus point and sitting third early.

He improves to 3.889 at 334.55 in Q2, adds two more bonus points, and advances to second on the ladder heading into eliminations.

Saturday brings traction difficulties, masking ultimate pace, yet the earlier laps keep the NAPA Auto Care Toyota at the sharp end.

Round one, Capps defeats Alex Laughlin but suffers an engine explosion near the stripe, hurting elapsed time and damaging the NAPA Auto Care GR Supra body.

The team switches to the Carlyle Tools body, last raced at the U.S. Nationals in September, ensuring structural integrity and consistent aero for the remaining rounds.

He resets and defeats Cruz Pedregon in round two with a 4.042 at 314.97. A holeshot over Daniel Wilkerson follows, 4.019 at 315.81 securing the semifinal decision.

The final starts evenly, separated by six thousandths on reaction. Capps’ parachutes deploy early, yielding 4.405 at 199.80, while Prock completes a clean winning pass.

The malfunction neutralizes lane choice advantage and masks the car’s competitive form. Execution elsewhere is strong, offering optimism despite the missed opportunity.

With two playoff events remaining, margins tighten. A Las Vegas rebound, coupled with incremental qualifying points, could elevate Capps into a realistic title shot.

Capps praises the group’s response and welcomes another run with the Carlyle Tools body in Las Vegas, citing confidence in the package and crew turnaround time.

Ron Capps Motorsports returns after a three-week break for the NHRA Nevada Nationals, October 31 to November 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Visual Summary

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.