{"id":104940,"date":"2026-10-02T05:44:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T05:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/ron-capps-thinking-big-at-napa-nhra-midwest-nationals\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T05:44:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T05:44:03","slug":"ron-capps-thinking-big-at-napa-nhra-midwest-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/ron-capps-thinking-big-at-napa-nhra-midwest-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"RON CAPPS THINKING BIG AT NAPA NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FUNNY CAR\u2019S RON CAPPS THINKING BIG AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2026) \u2013 Needing a big weekend to get back in the thick of the world championship hunt, Funny Car standout Ron Capps likely couldn\u2019t have picked a better destination than World Wide Technology Raceway, the site of this weekend\u2019s 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.<\/p>\n

For one, it\u2019s a sponsor race for Capps and his NAPA Auto Care team, which automatically makes it a highlight for the three-time champ.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s always a place where Capps has performed well over the years, winning a Funny Car-best four times. Entering the weekend fourth in points and 112 behind leader Matt Hagan, the past success in St. Louis gives Capps added confidence he can have a big weekend as the first half of the Countdown to the Championship comes to a close.<\/p>\n

Ending on a positive \u2013 and perhaps winning \u2013 note would bode well for the final three races and Capps is hopeful his talented team can deliver this weekend in St. Louis, where he will also be honored as one of \u201cGateway\u2019s Greatest\u201d on Friday at the track.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got some good events coming up, especially this weekend in St. Louis with the event being sponsored by NAPA,\u201d said Capps, who has three Funny Car victories in 2026. \u201cSt. Louis has been a good track for me with a lot of wins, and a lot of great results. Of course, when you have so many NAPA people come out like they are, you want to show off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each claimed wins, while this year\u2019s coverage also includes qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and 11 a.m. on Sunday. It also includes eliminations coverage on FOX on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The majority of markets on Sunday, Oct. 4, will see NHRA action from St. Louis following football broadcasts early in the day. Those markets will air the NHRA playoff race from 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET following the football on FOX game, while some markets will air NHRA coverage from 2-4 p.m. ET, leading directly into football on FOX action.<\/p>\n

The race is the 17th of 20 races during the 2026 season and marks the halfway point of the six-race Countdown to the Championship. It\u2019s also a big one for Ron Capps Motorsports as Capps\u2019 teammate, star rookie Maddi Gordon, will be sporting a NAPA Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster for the event.<\/p>\n

That adds even more incentive for Capps, who will also try to leap past the likes of J.R. Todd, who sits in third, and Jordan Vandergriff, who is second in points and 84 back of Hagan. The three-time champ advanced to the quarterfinals at the first two Countdown races, but Capps knows he needs to advance further on raceday to have a chance to track down Hagan down the stretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tight battle and we know who we\u2019re going to have to fight for the championship,\u201d Capps said. \u201cBut that being said, looking back at Rockingham and Michigan, you can\u2019t count anybody out on race day. You don\u2019t even want to not mention them, because you look at the top 12 cars in our class, and any of them are capable of winning on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday opens with two qualifying sessions, including a spectacular night session that includes the inaugural \u201cTop Dog\u201d competition presented by USEDHOTDOGS.com, as NHRA\u2019s quickest qualifiers battle for $7,500 in bonus money. That leads into Saturday\u2019s two sessions and final eliminations on Sunday at the key playoff race.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Kalitta will try to keep pace with Top Fuel teammate Shawn Langdon, who is riding another three-race winning streak into St. Louis. The likes of Tony Stewart, Antron Brown, Leah Pruett and Maddi Gordon will also look to stop Langdon\u2019s hot streak.<\/p>\n

Greg Stanfield moved into the points lead in Pro Stock after winning in Rockingham. He\u2019ll look to hold off the likes of Matt Hartford, reigning world champ Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson and Erica Enders in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson holds the points lead after winning Sunday in Rockingham. Other standouts include Matt and Angie Smith, Herrera and Chase Van Sant.<\/p>\n

The NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals will also feature action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown.<\/p>\n

Fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each driver racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, as well as the winner\u2019s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the St. Louis event winners.<\/p>\n

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars between rounds, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA\u2019s Manufacturers Midway, which includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun.<\/p>\n

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 2, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 4.<\/p>\n

Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888<\/a>, or online at www.wwtraceway.com<\/a>. All children 12 and under are free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more info on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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The post RON CAPPS THINKING BIG AT NAPA NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS<\/a> appeared first on Drag Racing List<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 FUNNY CAR\u2019S RON CAPPS THINKING BIG AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2026) \u2013 Needing a big weekend to get back in the thick of the world championship hunt, Funny Car standout Ron Capps likely couldn\u2019t have picked a better destination than World Wide Technology Raceway, the site of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104940"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104940\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}