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Ron Capps Motorsports Pre-Race Report: Brainerd

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NHRA Brainerd Nationals
Event 13 of 20
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 21 – 23, 2026

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

Driver Information:

RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car

NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Highlights:

  • Seven-time event champion (1998, 2001, 2012-2014, 2019, 2023)  
  • Four-time runner-up (1997, 2009, 2011, 2022)  
  • Two-time No. 1 qualifier (2000, 2023)

2025 NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Bobby Bode in E1; defeated by J.R. Todd in E2)

Last Event (Seattle):
Qualified 10th; First round exit (defeated by Cruz Pedregon in E1)

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

Career Statistics:
680 races; 80 wins, 39 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

  • Capps carries the Funny Car points lead into Brainerd with two races remaining before a regular-season champion is crowned. Capps has occupied the No. 1 spot nine times through the first 12 events
  • The three-time Funny Car world champ enters the weekend after having recently been crowned the ‘King of Nitro’ during the annual Night Under Fire match race in Norwalk, Ohio earlier this month
  • The 30-year nitro veteran will be honored as one of NHRA’s Top 75 drivers during the Brainerd event as part of NHRA’s year-long 75th anniversary celebration
  • Both Capps’ NAPA Auto Care Funny Car and Maddi Gordon’s Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster will feature increased OKUMA branding in Brainerd as part of a six-race collaboration with the global leader in machine tool design and manufacturing
  • The Ron Capps Motorsports team is also excited to welcome new partners Core Scientific and USA Compression at the BIR event

Fan Events:

  • Friday, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 9:00 – 9:30 a.m., Mission #2Fast2Tasty and Top 75 driver autograph session, Mission Foods midway display
  • Saturday, 9:30 – 10 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display

Quotable:
“We’ve had a great NAPA Auto Care Funny Car all season. Consistency is something you always hope to have by the time you get to Brainerd, and we feel like we have that. Everyone knows the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis is coming up after that, and with that being points and a half, a lot can happen. For us to be leading in the points at this point in the season is a feather in the cap.

“We’ve done well at Brainerd in the past and we feel good, especially coming off that great weekend at Night Under Fire where pretty much every run we made was in the 3.80s. Guido’s feeling really comfortable, and when he’s comfortable, I’m definitely comfortable.

“We’re fortunate to have so many great partners supporting us. We’ll have OKUMA on our car in Brainerd, and in addition to the 400 NAPA guests that we’ll have in our pit area, the fans in the Zoo and Capps Corner, we have two brand-new partners, USA Compression and Core Scientific, that will be joining us in the Zoo this year. I’ve become somewhat of a Zoo tour guide, and while it is extra pressure and a lot of extra noise going on in the background, I love it. It always bodes well for me, it keeps me busy, and we always seem to have a great event, so I’m looking forward to it.”

On Being Honored as One of NHRA’s Top 75 Drivers:
“Everything that NHRA has done to celebrate the 75th anniversary is above and beyond what I personally expected, starting off with the diamond Wallys, and I’m lucky enough to have three of them so far this season. They’re really special. Then, you add everything going on with all the Legends at every race and bringing out special guests. NHRA’s marketing department has done such a great job.”

MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Last Event (Seattle):
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Tony Stewart in E1)

2026/Career Statistics:
12 races; one win

Noteworthy:

  • Enters the weekend after an impressive debut outing at the annual Night Under Fire match race in Norwalk, Ohio earlier this month where Gordon powered to a runner-up finish against her boss in an all-RCM final round showdown
  • Both Gordon’s Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster and Capps’ NAPA Auto Care Funny Car will feature increased OKUMA branding in Brainerd as part of a six-race collaboration with the global leader in machine tool design and manufacturing
  • The Rookie of the Year contender previously competed at BIR with her family’s Top Alcohol Funny Car team
  • Earned her Top Alcohol Funny Car license at BIR in 2023

Fan Events:

  • Thursday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Monster Energy Signing & Sampling with Brittany Force, Walmart (7295 Glory Rd., Baxter)
  • Friday, 10:00 – 11 a.m., Monster Energy autograph session with Brittany Force, Super One Foods (7895 Excelsior Rd., Baxter)
  • Friday, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 9:30 – 10 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display

Quotable:
“Super stoked to be heading into Brainerd teamed up with the “mayor of The Zoo,” aka the bossman, Ron Capps. Brainerd has always had such a special place in my and family’s hearts. It’s where we’ve had some of our scariest racing days and also where we’ve had some of our most exciting racing days, including in 2023 when we came back after my dad’s crash in ’22, won the race, and then on that Monday, I achieved my lifelong dream alongside my family when I became a licensed Top Alcohol Funny Car driver. What’s especially cool about that is Ron was a huge part of my licensing day. He signed off on multiple runs and watched every single pass down the race track. So, it’s an incredible honor to now be coming back three years later as a Top Fuel driver for Ron Capps Motorsports; truly a full circle moment.

“Our Carlyle Tools team is looking forward to putting on an amazing show for the fans. We’ve got a bunch of fun things on deck before the race weekend even begins, starting with a NAPA fishing outing on Thursday, and then I’ll be signing autographs alongside Brittany Force on Thursday evening and Friday morning with Monster at the local Walmart and Super One Foods. I can’t wait to get up there and see all our amazing Brainerd fans and the incredible staff at Brainerd International Raceway.”