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Ron Capps Motorsports Pre-Race Report: Bristol

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Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Event 9 of 20
Bristol Dragway
Bristol, Tenn.
June 12 – 14, 2026

By: Ron Capps Motorsports (Photos Courtesy Ron Capps Motorsports)

Driver Information:

RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car

NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Highlights:

  • Eight-time event champion (2001, 2006, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025)  
  • 2015 event runner-up   
  • 2016 No. 1 qualifier

2025 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified third; Event champion (defeated Matt Hagan in E1, J.R. Todd in E2, Dave Richards in E3, Paul Lee in E4)

Last Event (Epping):
Qualified sixth; Semifinal finish (defeated Daniel Wilkerson in E1, Alexis DeJoria in E2; defeated by Jack Beckman in E3)

2026 Statistics:
Eight races; two wins, one runner-up finish, two No. 1 qualifiers

Career Statistics:
676 races; 79 wins, 39 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

  • It was announced earlier this week that Capps has been named Bristol Dragway’s ‘Legends of Thunder Valley’ 2026 inductee. Capps becomes the 24th inductee and only the third active driver to receive this prestigious recognition
  • As an eight-time Bristol Dragway event champ, Capps is the winningest Mission Foods Series competitor in the facility’s history
  • Capps, who returns as the defending event champion, has won three out of the last four Bristol races
  • The driver/team owner goes into the weekend carrying the points lead for the fifth time this season after two wins, a runner-up finish, two poles, and back-to-back semifinal appearances at the two most recent events on tour
  • Will compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday
  • Owns the Bristol Dragway Funny Car E.T. record, achieved during the 2016 race when he clocked a 3.884-second pass

Fan Events:

  • Friday, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 9:30 – 10:00 a.m., Mission #2Fast2Tasty driver autograph session, Mission Foods midway display
  • Saturday, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Q&A with Hannah Rickards, Nitro Alley stage
  • Post-Q4, Thunder Valley Nationals Fanfest driver autograph session, Welcome Village Tent at Tunnel 2

Quotable:
“Man, where do I start. Obviously, Bristol is a special place for me as a racer with all the wins and incredible moments there over the years. Wins with different crew chiefs, different owners. Don Schumacher, and of course, I started my career there with Don Prudhomme. It takes me back to my first race there when they built it. I’ll never forget walking into Thunder Valley with ‘The Snake’ and looking around in awe, and I still feel that way when I pull in every year. The phone call I got when I was told I was being added as one of the Legends of Thunder Valley was surreal. I feel like it’ll really hit me when I’m in the car pulling up, and I see my name up on the side of the grandstand with all those other legendary names. My past history there has been so great, and it’s been fun this year to talk with Maddi and her excitement about going there for the first time and explaining all the cool things that makes Bristol Dragway so neat. I’m especially excited for her to experience that moment when you pull the ‘chutes on that first run and you hear the car echo through Thunder Valley; it’s really awesome. We’ve got a lot of fun things coming up, we’re leading the points going in, and we love seeing Bristol on the calendar. Looking forward to a great weekend with our NAPA and Carlyle Tools guys and seeing if we can’t add to our RCM Bristol Wally count.”

MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Last Event (Epping):
Qualified 10th; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Tony Stewart in E1; defeated by Leah Pruett in E2)

Noteworthy:

  • Making her Bristol Dragway debut aboard the Carlyle Tools dragster

Fan Events:

  • Friday, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Post-Q4, Thunder Valley Nationals Fanfest driver autograph session, Welcome Village Tent at Tunnel 2

Quotable:
“I’ve never been to Bristol but have heard amazing things. This three-race stretch is when the season really kicks into high gear. Fortunately, last weekend, we ran a 3.75, which ended up being second-low (E.T.) of the first round, and that was a huge confidence booster for our team. It’s really shown us that our Carlyle Tools dragster is capable of making the horsepower that we know it can, and that’s awesome for team morale. And for myself, I got some really good experience pedaling in the second round.

“Just really looking forward to getting out to Bristol and putting on a good show for all the fans as well as visiting with all of our NAPA and Carlyle folks who are coming out. We’re definitely looking to show up and show out for them and have a good weekend. I’m going to kick things off by trap shooting on Thursday before the event. So, good times all around and hopefully we can have a good and fast weekend out there.”