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HEADING TO NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT FOR FUNNY CAR STAR RON CAPPS
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 24, 2025) – World Wide Technology Raceway has treated three-time Funny Car champion Ron Capps well over the years, something he hopes to replicate at this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals for multiple reasons.
A victory would keep him alive in the loaded Funny Car championship chase and the addition of NAPA Auto Parts – Capps’ longtime sponsor – as the title sponsor of the race adds another layer of motivation as well.
He’s done well in St. Louis in recent seasons, advancing to the final round in each of the last three years at the standout facility in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Car Toyota GR Supra. Capps remains the winningest Funny Car driver in St. Louis history, winning four times at World Wide Technology Raceway, but his last victory came in 2017.
Capps, who enters the weekend third in points and 98 points back of reigning champ Austin Prock, would love to change that and pull closer to Prock in the process.
“It’s such a great racing community in the area,” Capps said. “The weather is looking like we’re going to have great conditions throughout the weekend. It’s a big event and it’s close enough to Indy where it’s somewhat of a home race for the crew members since it’s only a few hours away. We’ve hovered in the top three in points, moved to second for a brief point in time last weekend, and now of course, we’re heading to a race that is being sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts this year.
“So, I love this race for all those reasons and especially the fact that we’ve got such a great NAPA Auto Care Funny Car right now. To have the performance we did last weekend, it makes it very exciting to go to these next few events. I’m hoping we can at least repeat what we’ve done there in the past this weekend.”
Last season, Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each claimed wins, and this year’s race will once again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage airing at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28. It is the 17th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA season and the third of six playoff races, marking the halfway point of the championship chase.
Capps is looking forward to racing in front of what will be another packed house in St. Louis, but he also knows there’s work to be done to try and track down Prock. The veteran is after his first victory since June and his first win in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs since his championship season in 2022.
To do that, he’ll also have to get past the likes of four-time champ Matt Hagan, who is second in points, Beckman, Paul Lee, Reading winner Cruz Pedregon, Daniel Wilkerson and top rookie Spencer Hyde. Consistency remains the name of the game in the playoffs, though, and Capps knows if he can continue to go rounds, a fourth championship is very much within reach.
“While some things stay the same, there have certainly been a lot of changes going into the third race of the Countdown this season, compared to years past,” Capps said. “For us, we always look forward to heading to World Wide Technology Raceway. We’ve been in the final round there the last three years in a row, and while those weren’t wins, they certainly show the consistency of our race team. This is the part of the year where you have to have that consistency.” |
