NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, will represent the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series on Thursday, June 26, when he joins the Thursday Night Thunder Heroes field to compete in a celebrity all-star race featuring many of the biggest names in American motorsports.
 
The three-time NHRA world champion will swap straight-line racing for left turns when he hits the oval track at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), the Brownsburg, Ind. facility which also hosts the NHRA U.S. Nationals. Alongside current Top Fuel points leader Tony Stewart, Capps will represent drag racing in a loaded field of current and retired drivers drawing from across multiple racing disciplines. IRP recently began revealing its lineup of drivers with the announcement of Stewart and 2013 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Brad Noffsinger. Open-wheel racer Michael Lewis was also announced along with Capps.

 
When he makes his IRP oval debut, Capps will be at the controls of Matt Seymour Racing’s No. 29 Allstar Midget. The two-time U.S. Nationals event champion’s machine will be wrapped to resemble his NAPA Auto Care Funny Car livery. The vehicle is typically piloted by Jake Trainor of Medway, Mass., who is fresh off his second Little 500 win.
 
“To be invited to race such a historic track in a midget, and for such a historic name like the Seymour racing family, it just doesn’t get any better,” said Capps, who recently scored his 77th NHRA win in Bristol. “They haven’t all been announced yet, but I’ve seen the full list of all-stars racing that night, and it’ll be pretty wild to be racing side by side with some of the greatest drivers in the world and drivers I’ve looked up to for a long time.”
 
While drag racing is his passion and career, Capps, a 31-year NHRA veteran and the second-winningest driver in Funny Car history, has been known to drive just about anything with a motor. From Sprint cars to go-karts to iRacing, Capps has made appearances in multiple Chili Bowl events and was the only drag racer to be invited to participate in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) Series when he competed at Eldora Speedway in August 2023.
 
“Matt Seymour Racing is synonymous with championships and such a historic name in the open-wheel world,” Capps added. “I’ve got to thank Bentley Warren for putting us together and giving me a chance to drive for the Seymour family. I grew up watching Thursday Night Thunder which was the midgets at the IRP oval. And even today, any chance I get, I’m on Flo Racing watching open-wheel racing. It’ll be really cool to be around some of the people I watch weekly and have a chance to drive one of the best cars out there.
 
“We’ve been pretty busy with our NHRA schedule, but I’ve been home for a few days and was able to jump on my iRacing rig and run some laps in a midget at the IRP oval. Of course, there’s nothing like the real deal, but I feel like at least I got a little bit of seat time heading into next week. Getting to drive the No. 29 after watching Jake Trainor win the Carb Classic this year and then strapping into that same car is pretty neat. I’m beyond excited.”
 
Immediately following the conclusion of the Thursday Night Thunder Heroes all-star race, Capps will depart Indianapolis for Norwalk, Ohio, where he will begin qualifying Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals the following day. Capps returns to Norwalk after having powered to a runner-up finish at the 2024 event.