Ron Capps. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

Courtesy of the NHRA

INDIANAPOLIS – Ron Capps won the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout on Saturday at this weekend’s prestigious 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, beating Matt Hagan in the final round to take the $80,000 top prize in the bonus event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Ron Capps. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 16th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the final event of the regular season.

Capps, the defending world champion, put together a run of 3.936-seconds at 330.47 mph in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts GR Toyota Supra, knocking off Hagan on a holeshot. Hagan ran a quicker 3.900 at 328.66, but Capps was quicker off the starting line to pick up the specialty race win. He beat Tim Wilkerson and John Force to reach the final round, while Hagan knocked off Alexis DeJoria and Robert Hight. Capps’ .026 reaction time ultimately proved to be the difference in the finals.

Ron Capps. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

“This turned out to be so much fun,” Capps said. “The car was hauling the mail in the final round and it’s so cool to win on a holeshot and to do it for this much money, I love it for my guys. We’ve had so many special moments this year and this ranks right up there, until hopefully tomorrow. But this one is really, really big for us.”

Looking for his first Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals victory, Capps also secured his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season with his run of 3.864 at 333.58 against Wilkerson. Sunday’s win provided momentum, but Capps knows he could get one of the biggest wins of his career on Monday. He’ll open eliminations against Dale Creasy Jr.

“We’ve got a great race car right now,” Capps said. “Last year stung and that was the run of the year in Funny Car. We’ll take some time to enjoy this No. 1 and this (callout) win, and we’ll get ready for tomorrow.”

Brittany Force. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

Force delivered a magical moment on Sunday, breaking both ends of the track record at Indy with an incredible run of 3.640 at 337.75 in her 11,000-horsepower Monster Energy dragster. It gives Force, the current points leader, her seventh No. 1 this season and 39th in her career, but this one is certainly special for the former world champion. She’s after her first career U.S. Nationals, opening eliminations against Dan Mercier in what also ended up being the quickest qualifying field in NHRA history. Mercier qualified No. 16 with a 3.758 at 318.99, while Force will try for her fifth victory this season.

“This is definitely a big one for this Monster Energy team,” Force said. “This is the biggest race of the season, it’s the one race everyone wants to win. There’s extra motivation coming into it. It’s Indy and everyone wants to accomplish something here. That was a killer run, especially since we struggled every lap and then we finally got it figured out. It was outstanding. Then for it to be part of the quickest field in NHRA history and to be part of that with 25 cars is pretty incredible. That’s history and we want to leave our mark so to come here to Indy and take that No. 1, we’re just excited.”

Justin Ashley secured the second spot with a run of 3.671 at 335.32, which momentarily set the speed record on Saturday, while Steve Torrence is third with his 3.692 at 329.02.

Greg Anderson. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

Pro Stock’s Anderson wrapped up his third straight No. 1 qualifier this season on the strength of his 6.567 at 208.10 from Saturday in his Hendricks.com Chevrolet Camaro. It’s part of a great run for the defending world champion, who is seeking his first victory of the season. He’ll start raceday against Fernando Cuadra Sr. and has one goal for Monday: to pick up his 100th career victory. Doing so at the world’s biggest drag race would make it that much sweeter for Anderson, who is also trying to get his seventh Indy victory and first at the track since 2011.

“It’s just nice to have a race car that can win again,” Anderson said. “We were not up to par for the first 8-10 races but we’re back. We’re climbing the ladder and we know that we can win again. Now, we just need to put it all together on Monday. The driver has to have his act together and do a good job. Everyone in this class is a killer. Indy is a marathon, so you’ve got to learn to save a little for Monday. Now, it’s just a matter of who can bring the biggest gun tomorrow.”

Anderson’s KB Racing teammate Dallas Glenn wrapped up the second spot after going 6.578 at 207.72, while points leader Erica Enders finished third with a 6.582 at 208.97. Enders has won the last two races at Indy.

Angelle Sampey. Photo courtesy of the NHRA

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sampey held onto her No. 1 spot from Saturday, clinching her fourth top qualifier of the season thanks to her run of 6.796 at 199.88 on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It’s also the 57th career No. 1 qualifier for Sampey, who will try to win the U.S. Nationals for the first time in 20 years. That would wrap up a stellar weekend for Sampey, who is after her third win at the Big Go. She’ll take on Ron Tornow to open eliminations.

“The last two runs today were good, and we feel confident going into tomorrow,” said Sampey, who has seven career No. 1 qualifiers at the U.S. Nationals. “We’re going to hold onto this the best we can and we’re certainly capable of winning this race if I can keep my composure. I’m going to give it my all and I just want to win the race. But I need to do my job in the first round and that’s where I need to keep my focus. I’m just so comfortable on this bike.”

Defending world champ Matt Smith made the best two runs on Sunday and finished second with a 6.800 at 201.16, while Krawiec’s 6.826 at 198.79 from earlier in the weekend put him third. Points leader Joey Gladstone qualified seventh.

Eliminations for the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR SHOOTOUT:

ROUND ONE — John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.931, 327.82 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 4.031, 311.49; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.870, 332.26 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 12.865, 60.32; Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.864, 333.58 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.920, 329.50; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.895, 334.15 def. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 7.413, 92.95;

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 4.180, 255.73 def. Hight, 10.119, 82.57; Capps, 3.896, 332.59 def. Force, 5.162, 147.65;

FINAL — Capps, 3.936, 330.47 def. Hagan, 3.900, 328.86.

INDIANAPOLIS — Monday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, the 16th of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Sunday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.640 seconds, 337.75 mph vs. 16. Dan Mercier, 3.758, 318.99; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.671, 335.32 vs. 15. Shawn Langdon, 3.754, 322.73; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.692, 329.02 vs. 14. Austin Prock, 3.750, 333.58; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.701, 331.36 vs. 13. Tony Schumacher, 3.743, 325.37; 5. Clay Millican, 3.707, 324.98 vs. 12. Doug Kalitta, 3.741, 324.44; 6. Antron Brown, 3.712, 330.55 vs. 11. Tripp Tatum, 3.739, 326.71; 7. Billy Torrence, 3.717, 325.53 vs. 10. Leah Pruett, 3.725, 332.51; 8. Josh Hart, 3.722, 330.15 vs. 9. Doug Foley, 3.722, 326.56.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.795, 327.59; 18. Spencer Massey, 3.798, 323.89; 19. Alex Laughlin, 3.809, 319.14; 20. Will Smith, 3.832, 318.02; 21. Krista Baldwin, 3.866, 305.01; 22. Lex Joon, 3.901, 318.69; 23. Scott Palmer, 3.972, 264.39; 24. Cameron Ferre, 5.864, 116.44; 25. Scott Farley, broke.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.864, 333.58 vs. 16. Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.075, 290.51; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.866, 327.27 vs. 15. John Smith, Charger, 4.034, 312.50; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.878, 331.53 vs. 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 3.961, 319.22; 4. John Force, Camaro, 3.881, 333.25 vs. 13. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.937, 328.78; 5. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.881, 327.19 vs. 12. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.924, 324.28; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.891, 330.55 vs. 11. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.908, 318.92; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.892, 333.41 vs. 10. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.907, 329.02; 8. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.894, 329.50 vs. 9. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.906, 324.83.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Justin Schriefer, 4.079, 294.37; 18. Terry Haddock, 4.159, 307.65.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.567, 208.10 vs. 16. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.661, 206.57; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.578, 207.72 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.644, 208.42; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.582, 208.97 vs. 14. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.640, 207.02; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.584, 208.26 vs. 13. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.634, 208.01; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.592, 208.14 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.629, 207.15; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.594, 207.82 vs. 11. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.617, 207.27; 7. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.596, 208.97 vs. 10. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.605, 207.62; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.598, 207.78 vs. 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.604, 209.20.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Alan Prusiensky, 6.674, 206.57; 18. Larry Morgan, 6.714, 205.79.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.796, 199.88 vs. 16. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.945, 192.28; 2. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.800, 201.16 vs. 15. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.937, 195.87; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.826, 198.79 vs. 14. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.924, 195.17; 4. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.828, 200.20 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.910, 196.02; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.835, 197.57 vs. 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.900, 195.39; 6. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.846, 196.50 vs. 11. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.899, 194.94; 7. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.873, 197.86 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.898, 195.00; 8. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.873, 195.70 vs. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.875, 197.05.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Malcolm Phillips Jr., 6.946, 194.41; 18. Chris Bostick, 6.989, 191.38; 19. Gaige Herrera, 7.067, 188.31; 20. Michael Phillips, 14.068, 58.40.