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Ron Capps Motorsports Pre-Race Report: Chicago

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Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK
Event 6 of 20
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 15 – 17, 2026

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

Driver Information:

RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car

Route 66 Raceway Highlights:

  • Two-time winner
    • 2017 Route 66 Nationals
    • 2005 Fall race (discontinued after 2005)
  • Five-time runner-up (2002 Fall race; 2007, 2016, 2018, 2023)
  • 2013 No. 1 qualifier

2025 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Alexis DeJoria in E1; defeated by Matt Hagan in E2)

Last Event (Valdosta):
Qualified 13th; First round exit (defeated by Chad Green in E1)

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

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

Noteworthy:

  • Looking to reclaim the Funny Car points lead after having slipped to second place in Valdosta. Capps sits a mere three points out of first thanks to his standout 2026 performance, which includes two wins, a runner-up finish and two poles through the first five races
  • Enters the weekend with 949 career round wins and is looking to surpass the 950 milestone in Joliet
  • Will run a Dorman OE Fix decal on his car throughout the weekend as part of a NAPA supplier partnership

Fan Events:

  • Friday, 12:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display

Quotable:
“This is a track that we thought we lost on the tour, but thankfully NHRA was able to come together and revive the event. We’ve got such great fans in that part of the country, so it was a big deal when we added this event back to the schedule. I’ve said for years, this is sort of a home race for the Brownsburg teams because Joliet is not too far from Indy. With it only being a few hours away, a lot of family and friends of our team members come out to show their support, and that’s always important.

“I have quite a few fond memories from Route 66 Raceway. I remember being on the track for the very first time right after it was built back when I was driving for Don ‘the Snake’ Prudhomme. I’ve got a couple of wins there and it’s always been a special place. And now, I’m looking forward to going there as a team owner and getting to see Maddi run her first race there in Top Fuel.

“We’ve got our sights set on reclaiming the points lead this weekend, and of course we always want to put on a great show for all of our NAPA supporters. We’re running a special Dorman OE Fix decal on our car in Joliet as part of a one-weekend NAPA supplier program partnership, and I’m looking forward to meeting all the Dorman guests who will be hanging out with us in our Ron Capps Motorsports hospitality tent.”

MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Last Event (Valdosta):
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Will Smith in E1; defeated by Justin Ashley in E2)

Noteworthy:

  • Recently became the second woman and fourth Top Fuel driver to eclipse the 340 mph barrier during the Valdosta, Ga. event
  • Celebrated her 22nd birthday over the off weekend

Fan Events:

  • Friday, 12:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
  • Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display 

Quotable:
“I’m always really excited to get back to the racetrack. It was nice to have that weekend off and spend time with my family. We celebrated my 22nd birthday at the lake, and it was a blast, but I’m always eager to get back to the track; that’s where my heart is. I’m just so proud of our Carlyle Tools team and what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. Everyone on the team – (crew chiefs) Rob (Flynn), Troy (Fasching), Chuck (Grospitch), everyone understands how much I really want to learn about these cars. I don’t want to just be a driver, I want to be a part of the team, and they always include me so I can learn all aspects. Everything from the tuning combination, the clutch, RPM, blowers, whatever it might be, they always take the time to explain it to me. And the more and more I learn about these cars, the more I appreciate just how much the team has accomplished already. It truly is spectacular. What people don’t get to see behind the scenes is how many things have to go absolutely perfect to get a Top Fuel car up and down that racetrack. So, the fact that we’ve been able to do that, and go 340 mph two times in a row, is just pretty amazing. I’m just along for the ride, enjoying the heck out of it.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the Chicago fans. We have amazing diehard fans in the NHRA and I love it, because I’m a diehard drag racing fan myself, so I’m excited to sign autographs, meet fans at the ropes and hopefully put on a good show for them. It’s so cool in our sport how fans can come right up to the pits and see what the teams are doing, and it’s especially cool that they get to see our Carlyle Tools in action; they get to see the tools that make our dragster go down the track. This is quite the dream I get to live, and that’s all thanks to Carlyle Tools, NAPA Auto Parts, and Monster Energy for supporting us. We’d love nothing more than to have another good outing this weekend, and hopefully keep that momentum rolling heading into these next five straight weeks of racing.”