Veteran driver Capps brings drag-racing momentum to Sonoma

Ron Capps is carrying drag-racing momentum into the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals after winning his 80th career Funny Car event on June 28 in Norwalk, Ohio. The veteran driver enters the weekend leading the Funny Car standings, following a fast Friday qualifying surge to the top spot before being bumped to No. 4. Qualifying continued Saturday ahead of Sunday’s elimination finals, with Jordan Vandergriff of John Force Racing topping the provisional field by running an elapsed time of 3.849 seconds. Cooler temperatures in the 60s accompanied Vandergriff’s 332.43 mph run in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, earning a $4,000 low qualifier bonus. Jack Beckman (3.873 ET) and Daniel Wilkerson (3.899 ET) finished second and third, respectively. Capps, crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli, and the NAPA Auto Care Toyota team said they have not reached their usual best yet. Capps will also be inducted into the West Coast Motorsports Hall of Fame this year alongside John Force, and he is second in career wins with 16 NHRA titles and 157 victories.