NORWALK, Ohio – Looking for his first victory of the season, Ron Capps got off to a strong start on Friday, powering to the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the seventh race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Capps went 3.888 seconds at 329.34 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, putting him in position to qualify in the top spot for the second time this season and 27th time in his career. Capps lost in the opening round in Epping, but he was confident his team could rebound in a big way in Norwalk.
“Just getting qualified is a big deal right now,” Capps said. “You want to take advantage of these conditions. After the disappointment of losing in the first round in Epping, you want to go out there and show what we’ve got. We’ve been qualifying well, we just haven’t had the breaks. It’s been a lot of fun and we just need to push a little further. Funny Car is as tough as it’s ever been. Trying to win a Funny Car race is tougher than ever.”
Robert Hight, who has advanced to two straight final rounds, went 3.895 seconds at 327.59 mph to qualify in the second spot on Friday, while Capps’ Don Schumacher Racing teammate and defending world champ Matt Hagan rounded out the top three with his run of 3.899 seconds at 327.82 mph.
Top Fuel points leader Torrence jumped to the top in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster with a run of 3.705 seconds at 324.83 mph. If it holds, it would be the third No. 1 qualifier this year of 30th of his career for the points leader and three-time defending world champion. Brittany Force, who is after her first victory of the campaign, is currently second thanks to her solid pass of 3.722 seconds at 323.74 mph. Torrence’s father, Billy, who won in Epping at the most recent event, followed in third after going 3.724 seconds at 325.37 mph.
After his Pro Stock victory in Epping, Stanfield kept up a strong pace, going 6.615 seconds at 206.57 mph in his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro to take over the No. 1 spot. If it holds, Stanfield would earn his first career No. 1 qualifier. His Elite Motorsports teammate, defending world champ and 2021 ESPY Best Driver Nominee Erica Enders, went 6.620 seconds at 206.83 mph to sit in the second position, while points leader Greg Anderson is third after his run of 6.626 seconds at 208.04 mph.
Five-time Norwalk winner Hines again looked strong at the track in Pro Stock Motorcycle, taking the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.855 seconds at 200.68 mph on his Vance & Hines Buell. If it holds, it would be the first No. 1 qualifier of the year for Hines, the winningest rider in class history, and 45th in his remarkable career. Defending world champ and points leader Matt Smith was right behind after going 6.856 seconds at 198.79 mph and Joey Gladstone rounded out the top three by going 6.863 seconds at 197.91 mph. Eddie Krawiec, who is currently fourth, set a track speed record with a run of 201.22 mph.