NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Three-time Funny Car world champion Ron Capps secured his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the 2026 season on Saturday at the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock during the conclusion of qualifying at Rockingham Dragway.

Capps’ 3.870-second pass at 330.40 mph held up as best of the field at Rockingham Dragway. It marked Capps’ 41st career No. 1.

“We were praying that nobody would outdo us because that first-round bye is huge,” said Capps. “The points are still pretty bunched up. We gave up some ground in Martin. We're just trying to just forget about it, put it behind us.”

Capps will have a bye during the opening session of eliminations. He will be aiming for his fourth win of the 2026 season and 81st of his career.

“I was just so proud of ‘Guido’ [crew chief Dean Antonelli] and our guys,” Capps said. “I understand those points are monumental. We have a chance to run [points leader] Matt Hagan in round two, which would be huge, but you can’t look that far ahead. I'm going to have to race them all, and we're going to win a championship.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned No. 1 qualifiers in Rockingham at the 16th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and second of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Reigning world champion Kalitta took the No. 1 qualifier with his 3.682 at 338.09. It gave Kalitta his sixth No. 1 of the year.

Hartford secured his third No. 1 of the season thanks to his 6.476 at 212.87 mph. He has three wins on the year.  

Smith earned her fourth No. 1 of 2026 after her 6.674 at 201.61 stayed best of the field. Smith will be racing for her second win of the season.

Eliminations for the NHRA Nationals at The Rock begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at Rockingham Dragway.