Ron Capps, three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion, is on the lookout for victory with his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Supra, before NASCAR Cup Series competitor Chase Elliott takes the wheel of his Hendrick Motorsports‘ No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet at Texas. This event comes as the leading automobile parts brand, NAPA, marks its 100th anniversary.
Capps, who has been associated with NAPA for 18 years, eagerly anticipates his fifth win at the American Rebel Light in Concord, North Carolina. Capps voiced his excitement for the newly unveiled anniversary-themed paint scheme for his Funny Car, in an interview with ATYL Media at the zMAX Dragway near Charlotte.
Chase Elliott’s vehicle also sports the NAPA centennial paint scheme, set to be showcased during the Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 4. A veteran of drag racing in Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars for over three decades, Capps won his first NHRA Funny Car championship in 2016, finishing the last season ranked third in the championship points standings.
During the interview, Capps delved into his journey into racing, crediting tractor pullers in his hometown of San Luis Obispo, California. He described his father’s role in his journey, building engines for tractor pullers, dirt cars, and drag cars.
Capps also declared that Maddi Gordon, the 100th woman to win an NHRA event in 2024, will join his team, Ron Capps Motorsports, for a full-time Top Fuel dragster ride in the 2026 NHRA season.
The impact of Capps and Elliott’s performance at the upcoming races could be significant. Their potential victories, symbolizing NAPA’s 100-year legacy, could boost their morale and enrich the brand’s racing history. As enthusiasts await the Texas showdown, the focus remains on Ron Capps’ quest for glory and Chase Elliott’s NASCAR race in Texas.
