NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA racers Ron Capps and Angelle Sampey will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) in its 2027 class.

Capps and Sampey, both members of NHRA’s recently announced Top 75 Drivers list from its first 75 years, will be inducted next March in Daytona Beach, Fla.

A three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion, Capps has built a Hall of Fame-worthy career spanning more than three decades at the sport’s highest level. Known for his quick thinking behind the wheel, affable personality, and dedication to his partners, the California native ranks among the winningest drivers in NHRA history with 78 overall career victories placing him second all-time in Funny Car wins and among the leaders in overall round-wins across the sport’s four Professional categories. He was also named to NHRA’s prestigious Top 75 Drivers list in early 2026 and is the winningest pro driver at Bristol Dragway.

“This is truly one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car. “When you look at all the people who have been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, it’s hard to put into words what it means to be included among them. And the coolest part about it is, both my former team owners, Don ‘the Snake’ Prudhomme [class of 1991] and Don Schumacher [class of 2019], have both been inducted. This feels like a full circle for me, now as an NHRA team owner, to join them on the list.”

“Ron’s induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is truly a well-deserved honor for one of the most accomplished and respected competitors in NHRA history,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “Ron’s success on the track certainly speaks for itself, but his contributions to the sport run much deeper. His passion for the sport and his connection with our fans have been incredible for more than three decades.

“He has been a remarkable ambassador for NHRA Drag Racing his entire career, representing our sport with enthusiasm, integrity, and as the ultimate professional, exemplified by his longtime partnership with NAPA and desire to push the sport forward by bringing in a rookie like Maddi Gordon to his team. We’re thrilled to see him get his recognition among the greats in motorsports and celebrate this special moment with him.” 

Sampey is not just one of the most successful female racers in drag racing history, she is one of the most successful in motorsports history. Over the course of her career, the hugely popular New Orleans native has won three NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2000-02) and, as of 2024, remains third all-time in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle wins with 46. Sampey, 1990 inductee Shirley Muldowney, and Pro Stock champion Erica Enders are the only female Professional racers with more than 10 NHRA event victories. After Enders’ six, Sampey and Muldowney are the only women with three NHRA championships.

“I found out when we were in Phoenix testing, and I was shocked," said Sampey. "It’s honestly probably the biggest honor that I’ve had in my career. I had heard at one time I was going to be on the ballot, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I thought maybe someday. Then, when they told me, I was honestly shocked. My first thought was that I’ve dedicated 30 years of my life to this sport and made some serious sacrifices both personally and professionally just to do what I love doing. Moments like this make it all worthwhile.

“This induction is a fitting recognition for Angelle, who is one of the most accomplished and influential competitors in NHRA history,” Cromwell said. “Her victories and championships in Pro Stock Motorcycle showcased a sustained excellence, serving as a trailblazer for women in motorsports and an inspiration to fans. Now, as a brand ambassador for our title sponsor, Mission Foods, and her continued success on the track in Top Alcohol Dragster, Angelle continues to have a significant impact in our sport, and it’s a proud moment to have her legacy recognized.”

The Class of 2027 also includes four-time IndyCar race winner and multiple USAC Champion, Gary Bettenhausen (Open Wheel); founder of the successful Dyson Racing and a winning Rolex 24 At Daytona driver, Rob Dyson (Sports Cars); two-time Daytona 500 champion and winner of 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Stock Cars); the executive who led GM's racing operations to unprecedented results, Herb Fishel (Business); a two-time Indianapolis 500 winning car owner and three-time second-place finisher at the Brickyard as a driver, Harry Hartz (Historic); the two-time Unlimited Air Racing champion and a world speed record setter for piston-engine planes, Steve Hinton (Aviation); the first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, Lyn St. James (At Large); and one of NASCAR’s most successful engine builders and a winner of 57 races as a team owner, Robert Yates (Stock Cars).

“It's an honor for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to be welcomed each year to make this important announcement at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach," said MSHFA president Daren Lucas. "We want to thank the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, INDYCAR, IMSA, and so many other top organizations and individuals who make this possible every year. The Class of 2027 is as accomplished as any group of iconic motorsports inductees in our nearly 40-year history, all still revered and admired today, and their legacies and achievements will now be forever memorialized at the Hall of Fame of ALL motorsports. Congratulations to the Class of 2027!"

For more information or to purchase Class of 2027 Induction tickets, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com.