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Ron Capps Motorsports Pre-Race Report: Dallas

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Texas NHRA FallNationals
Event 18 of 20
Countdown event 4 of 6
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, Texas
Oct. 16 – 18, 2026

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

Driver Information:

RON CAPPS
Driver of the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car

Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 6th (-162)

Texas NHRA FallNationals Event Highlights:

  • Two-time event champion (2021-2022)
  • Five-time runner-up (2011, 2016-2017, 2024, 2025)   
  • Two-time No. 1 qualifier (1997, 2005)

Note: Including his victory at the 1998 Spring race (now discontinued), Capps is a three-time overall winner at the Motorplex

2025 Texas NHRA FallNationals Event Recap:
Qualified second; Event runner-up (defeated Alex Laughlin in E1, Cruz Pedregon in E2, Daniel Wilkerson in E3; defeated by Austin Prock in E4)

Last Event (St. Louis):
Qualified 13th; First round exit (defeated by Austin Prock in E1)

2026 Statistics:
17 races: three wins, one runner-up finish, four No. 1 qualifiers

Career Statistics:

  • 685 races: 80 wins, 41 No. 1 qualifiers
  • Career-best E.T.: 3.821 seconds (Pomona 2, 2024)
  • Career-best speed: 339.37 mph (Martin, Mich. 2026) 

Noteworthy:

  • The three-time world champ is seeking his third consecutive FallNationals final round appearance and fifth in six years
  • Capps won at Dallas in 2021 and ’22, and went on to win the Funny Car championship both years
  • Capps’ 12,000-horsepower machine will carry NAPA Hydraulic Fluid branding this weekend.
    • NAPA premium hydraulic fluids are engineered for modern operating systems, delivering exceptional cleanliness, thermal stability and superior component protection to help reduce downtime, extend service intervals and maximize machine productivity, even under the harshest operating conditions.
  • Both Capps’ NAPA Auto Care Funny Car and Maddi Gordon’s Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster will feature increased OKUMA branding in Ennis 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 partners Core Scientific and USA Compression and their guests at Texas Motorplex 

Fan Events:

  • Thursday, 7 – 8:30 p.m., NHRA Fanfest, Railyard Park (455 S. College St., Waxahachie)
  • Thursday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver appearance, NAPA Auto Parts (1005 Dallas Dr., Denton)
  • Friday, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools Outlaw trailer
  • Saturday, 10 – 10:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools Outlaw trailer 

Quotable:
“It’s been a great season for our Ron Capps Motorsports team so far. We got Maddi her first win in Norwalk, Ohio, and for our NAPA Auto Care Funny Car team to have three diamond Wally trophies is no easy task given the state of the Funny Car class these days. While the break in action after those first three Countdown races was definitely something that I think everyone needed, it just reminds you that there are only three races left.

“The Stampede of Speed is one of the pinnacle events of our sport. We love going to the Texas Motorplex. Everything in Texas is done at a larger scale, and Billy, Christie Meyer and the whole Texas Motorplex crew are no exception. This is a race you always look at to either make a big move in the points or extend your lead, and this year, we need to make a move. We’ve got a lot of great things going with our great partners this weekend. Core Scientific, which came on board this year, and USA Compression have facilities in Texas that we’ll visit, and they both have a lot of guests coming out this weekend. Our NAPA Funny Car team is looking forward to showing off, as always.”

MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Last Event (St. Louis):
Qualified third; First round exit (defeated by Will Smith in E1)

2026/Career Statistics:

  • 17 races: one win, one runner-up finish
  • Career-best E.T.: 3.695 seconds (Brainerd 2026)
  • Career-best speed: 340.22 mph (Valdosta 2026) 

Noteworthy:

  • Has prior racing experience at Dallas, having competed in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category in 2024 and ‘25
  • Gordon’s father, Doug Gordon, drove the family Top Alcohol Funny Car to victory during the Stampede of Speed regional event last weekend
  • Both Gordon’s Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster and Capps’ NAPA Auto Care Funny Car will feature increased OKUMA branding in Ennis 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 partners Core Scientific and USA Compression and their guests at Texas Motorplex. Gordon will spend time visiting both organization’s Texas facilities ahead of the race weekend

Fan Events:

  • Thursday, 7 – 8:30 p.m., NHRA Fanfest Railyard Park (455 S. College St., Waxahachie)
  • Thursday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver appearance, NAPA Auto Parts (1005 Dallas Dr., Denton)
  • Friday, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools Outlaw trailer
  • Saturday, 10 – 10:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools Outlaw trailer 

Quotable:
“The Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex is one of my absolute favorite races of the year. It’s a show, an event; the fans are awesome, the stands are always packed. I actually flew out early and I got to be part of my family’s win at the regional race last weekend. So, that was really exciting and I feel like I’ve got some good mojo heading into this weekend. I’m looking forward to spending time with all the folks at Core Scientific and USA Compression, meeting the customers, and having them out at the track.

“This event is always a big turning point in the season. We’ve only got three races left, so now’s the time we’ve got to push hard, and I’ve got all the confidence in the world that Rob (Flynn) and Troy (Fasching) are going to put the best tune-up in our Carlyle Tools dragster and give us the best race car to finish out the season strong. After the race weekend, I’m headed out to Phoenix to do a really fun collab with Hailie Deegan, so definitely stay tuned on that. A lot of exciting things coming up and it’s going to be great. We’ve got a great team, a great race car, and we’re looking forward to showing the Texas fans some great racing.”