Top seed Ron Capps will lead eight Funny Car drivers in pursuit of the $100,000 winner’s share in the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout Sept. 22 during the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex.

Originally scheduled to be completed during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend, a series of weather delays forced NHRA officials to move the lucrative specialty race to this weekend’s event at Texas Motorplex near Dallas. Spencer Massey won the $100,000 NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout in Top Fuel on Sept. 1 in Indianapolis.

In the first-round pairings, Capps will race No. 8 fan-vote/lottery winner Courtney Force, Robert Hight will meet Jeff Arend, Jack Beckman will face John Force, and Johnny Gray will battle Mike Neff.

Drivers qualified for the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout by winning races during the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series regular season. One driver, 24-year-old rookie Courtney Force, was selected during a fan-vote/lottery process.

NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout rounds are scheduled for 12:45, 2:30, and 4 p.m. The all-star event will be televised on ESPN2HD during the 90-minute show on Saturday, starting at 10:30 p.m. ET.

For tickets to the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, call 800-MOTORPLEX (668-6775) or log on to www.texasmotorplex.com.

NHRA TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT IN FUNNY CAR

FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS (Sept. 22, 12:45 p.m.):
1. Ron Capps vs. No. 8 Courtney Force
2. Robert Hight vs. No. 7 Jeff Arend
3. Jack Beckman vs. No. 6 John Force
4. Johnny Gray vs. No. 5 Mike Neff

SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS (2:30 p.m.):
Capps-C. Force winner vs. Gray-Neff winner
Hight-Arend winner vs. Beckman- J. Force winner

FINAL (4 p.m.)