NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ron Capps, the winningest NHRA Funny Car driver in Bristol Dragway history, has been named the 2026 honoree for the prestigious Legends of Thunder Valley, historic Bristol Dragway’s Hall of Fame.

Capps, 60, will be officially inducted into the Legends of Thunder Valley during the pre-race ceremony for the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14, round No. 9 of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. He becomes only the third driver to be inducted while still an active participant, joining John Force and Tony Schumacher.

Capps is the 24th inductee in the Legends of Thunder Valley and joins the exclusive club that also includes Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, NHRA founder Wally Parks, John Force, Don Schumacher, Shirley Muldowney, Tony “the Sarge” Schumacher, Scotty Cannon, and last year’s inductee, Del Worsham, to name a few.

He will be presented with the customary Legends of Thunder Valley plaque by Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell during Sunday’s pre-race ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m. ET. The accompanying signage showcasing his name in brilliant red will be installed upon the grandstand suite fascia as part of the ceremony.

“Ron has put fans on their feet at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, cheering him on for decades, and has found a way to the winner’s circle here on many occasions,” Caldwell said. “Ron has done it all at Bristol, including winning races, earning No. 1 qualifying positions, setting track performance records, and he’s done it with a big smile on his face the whole time. Not only is Ron one of the sport’s greatest champions, but he’s also one of its most dynamic ambassadors, and we are thrilled to recognize and induct him today as the 2026 Legend of Thunder Valley honoree.”    

Capps has earned an incredible eight NHRA Funny Car victories during NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals competition over parts of three decades. The Carlsbad, Calif., driver claimed wins in 2001, 2006, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2025. What’s most impressive is that he has won those races with a variety of different team owners and crew chiefs over the years, showing his versatility as a pilot of the challenging 12,000-plus horsepower short-wheel-base machine where the engine sits in front of the driver and the flip-up body closes down and latches before each 330-mph run down the dragstrip.

In addition to recently making the move to become his own team owner, Capps previously drove for a pair of the sport’s legends: Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Don Schumacher. Both Prudhomme and Schumacher are already members of the Legends of Thunder Valley. His roster of all-star crew chiefs over the years has included Ed McCulloch, Rahn Tobler, John Medlen, and Dean Antonelli.

In addition to his Bristol victories, Capps has also earned a Bristol runner-up finish to Matt Hagan in 2015 and a No. 1 qualifying award in Bristol in 2016. Capps also holds the Bristol Dragway track e.t. record at 3.884 seconds, set in June of 2016.

Guests are invited to come out and celebrate with Capps, June 12-14 at Thunder Valley. He will be featured in several autograph sessions, including Saturday night’s popular Fan Fest in the Pits.

Qualifying for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begins Friday, June 12 with a pair of Pro sessions, the first at 6 p.m. and the second under the lights at 8 p.m. The final two rounds of qualifying are set for Saturday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and will include the popular bonus program, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Final eliminations are scheduled for noon on Sunday, June 14.

Friday’s 90-minute qualifying show will air on FS1 at 8 p.m. (ET) and be followed by another hour qualifying show on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ET), also on FS1. Sunday’s three-hour final eliminations show will air at 3 p.m. (ET) on FS1.

Single-day Friday tickets start as low as $35 for adults. Saturday adult tickets start at $60, and Sunday’s tickets start at $50. All grandstand tickets for kids 12 and under are free on Friday and $12 each day on the weekend with a paid adult. Discounted weekend packages and limited premium seating are also available.

To purchase your reserved seats, call Bristol Dragway at (866) 415-4158. Tickets are also available online by visiting the BMS website.

LEGENDS OF THUNDER VALLEY
2026 – Ron Capps, Funny Car
2025 – Del Worsham, Funny Car / Top Fuel
2024 – Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel
2023 – Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel
2022 – Don Prudhomme, Funny Car / Top Fuel
2021 – Scotty Cannon, Pro Mod / Funny Car
2019 – Ted Jones, promoter / drag racing visionary
2018 – Mark Oswald, Funny Car / Top Fuel
2017 – Doug Herbert, Top Fuel
2016 – John Force, Funny Car
2015 – Carl Moore, Bristol Dragway founder
2015 – Connie Kalitta, NHRA pioneer/Top Fuel/Funny Car
2014 – Don Schumacher, NHRA team owner / Funny Car pioneer
2013 – Warren Johnson, Pro Stock
2012 – Gene Fulton, Engine Builder
2011 – Jeff Byrd, Bristol President and GM / RJ Reynolds marketing
2010 – Shirl Greer, Funny Car
2009 – Dale Pulde, Funny Car
2008 – Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin, Pro Stock
2007 – Bruton Smith, Speedway Motorsports / Bristol Dragway owner
2007 -  Wally Parks, NHRA founder
2007 -  Don Garlits, Top Fuel
2007 -  Larry Carrier, Bristol Dragway founder
2007 -  Rickie Smith, Pro Stock/Pro Mod