NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Three-time Funny Car champion Ron Capps snapped a 33-race losing streak when he won two weeks ago in Bristol. Capps and the rest of the stars of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series return to racing this weekend at the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park for another weekend of action-packed racing.
 
Capps wheeled his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2023 two weeks ago in Bristol, providing a much-needed boost to the team. Capps hopes the win will carry some momentum into Richmond as the summer heats up for NHRA teams.
 
The stop in Richmond is the third event in a busy four-race June, meaning Capps could be rolling at an ideal time in the loaded Funny Car ranks.

 
“Coming off a win like we did at Bristol, where we saw conditions change so rapidly, it always goes back to me bragging about the NAPA team with [crew chief] Dean “Guido” Antonelli and being able to adapt quickly,” Capps said.
 
“Coming up to an event that has all three qualifying runs on Saturday and then the race on Sunday, it’s looking like it’s going to be a great show for the fans. And one thing about the VMP facility, when they redid the track, they really did it right. It’s one of the best track surfaces on tour, and with the conditions we’re expecting to see this weekend, it’s going to test every team. We feel great, but you can never count anything out with the Funny Car class with it being as tough as it is right now," he said.

Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Richmond during the two-day event. This year’s event, which is the ninth of 20 races during the 2025 season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, will be broadcast on the FOX broadcast network and FS1, including eliminations coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, June 22.
 
This weekend’s American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals will give teams a unique challenge with its two-day format featuring three qualifying sessions on Saturday and race day on Sunday. Also scheduled for the weekend will be the popular Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. With his win in Bristol, Capps will rematch with semifinalist Dave Richards, while Bristol runner-up Paul Lee will take on Daniel Wilkerson.
 
Sweeping the weekend won’t be easy, as the Funny Car class continues to be a highly competitive class with six different winners earning race wins through eight races.
 
Leading the points is reigning Funny Car world champion Prock. However, he suffered back-to-back first-round losses in Epping and Bristol. Phoenix winner Paul Lee sits second in points, while Prock’s John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman is third after his two wins this season. Others to watch will be Epping winner J.R. Todd, as well as four-time champion and Virginia native Matt Hagan.
 
“We’ve talked time and time again about this point in the season, where we’ve got a lot of races back-to-back, it’s hot out, hotter track temperatures, trickier conditions for the drivers and crew chiefs to navigate,” Capps said. “With our upcoming race this weekend in Richmond, it’s looking like it’s going to be very warm, and that bodes well for our team.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying roars into action with three rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. ET, leading into a can’t-miss race day with eliminations beginning at noon ET on Sunday, June 22. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
 
To purchase tickets to the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals, visit nhra.evenue.net/list/RV.