CHANDLER, AZ – NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps endured a terrifying moment in the opening round of eliminations at the NHRA Arizona Nationals when his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Supra exploded in a fiery blast before careening into the wall. Fortunately, Capps emerged from the wreckage unscathed, showcasing the resilience and safety advancements in modern drag racing.
The incident occurred during Sunday’s first round of eliminations at Firebird Motorsports Park. As Capps powered down the track, his Funny Car suffered a catastrophic engine failure, sending body panels flying and the remains of his machine veering into the retaining wall. The explosion happened just past half-track, leaving fans and teams in shock as safety crews rushed to the scene.
Despite the violent impact, Capps climbed out under his own power, receiving a round of applause from the Arizona crowd.
“I’m just thankful to be okay,” Capps said after the crash. “It was a wild ride, but that’s part of what we sign up for in these cars. The safety advancements NHRA and Toyota have put into these Funny Cars are incredible, and I can’t thank my team enough for everything they do to keep us safe.”
Capps’ early exit from eliminations marked a disappointing end to his weekend, but his well-being was the primary concern for the NHRA community. The veteran driver, a multi-time world champion, is expected to regroup with his Ron Capps Motorsports team and prepare for the next stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Fans can catch all the eliminations action on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET, where the full replay of Capps’ dramatic explosion will be shown along with the rest of the Arizona Nationals eliminations.
Stay tuned for updates as the NHRA season continues to heat up!
