NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After stops in Epping, Englishtown, and Bristol, the grueling four-race stretch that has come to be known as the "Eastern Swing" came to a conclusion at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk. The event’s many highlights included wins by four Pro racers who are no strangers to victory celebrations.

As competitive as the Funny Car class is, Ron Capps has ruled the roost at the last four events with three wins and a semifinal finish. Capps, a winner in Englishtown and Epping, had never won in Norwalk, but he took care of that with eight consecutive three-second runs, including a 3.956 in the final that runner-up Courtney Force could not match. Capps also won his 49th national event, which ties him with his former team owner, Hall of Famer Don “the Snake” Prudhomme.

Funny Car qualifying was also impressive as usual with a barrage of three-second runs, including a track record 3.875 by reigning Mello Yello world champion Del Worsham.

Just seven days after winning in Top Fuel in Bristol and clinching his spot in the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout, Shawn Langdon went back to back when he drove the Schumacher Racing Red Fuel dragster to a final-round win over J.R. Todd. Langdon, who won just two rounds in the first six races of the season, has caught fire lately and moved his record to a respectable 15-10 following his 12th nitro win. It was also the third Schumacher Racing nitro sweep in the last four events.

The nearly unstoppable Summit Camaros of teammates Greg Anderson and Jason Line continued their historic march through the Pro Stock class with their 12th win of the season. Line took top honors this time, winning his seventh title of the season, 6.678 to Anderson’s 6.717. Line’s record for the season borders on absurd with 41 round-wins against just five losses. Anderson isn’t far behind at 37-7, and both drivers have already secured positions in the Countdown to the Championship. 

The Pro Stock Motorcycle final was also an intermural scrimmage, with Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines riders Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines squaring off for the 20th time. Krawiec holds an 11-9 edge after his narrow 6.926 to 6.937 victory. Krawiec, who has started the season with a 14-2 record, also provided post-race highlights by visiting the sand trap in both the semifinal and final rounds thanks to a faulty master cylinder. His Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod was not damaged on either encounter. 

The event’s other champions included Billy Glidden, who claimed his second win in the J&A Service Pro Mod class, and David Barton, who remained perfect with a third straight win in the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown.

Vote now for your favorite driver and moment of the race.