NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ron Capps got his hands on his first special diamond Wally for NHRA’s 75th Anniversary season at the most recent race in Phoenix. As sweet as that was, there’s a chance for even more at this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Of course, there’s another diamond Wally on the line at one of NHRA’s most legendary races, but the weekend also marks the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history. There’s another special trophy for that, as well as the opportunity to capture a remarkable milestone win during NHRA’s special anniversary season.

Capps’ win in Phoenix gave the three-time Funny Car world champ 78 victories in his spectacular career — the most among active Funny Car drivers — but he never won one of the 100th race milestones. That could change this weekend in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra, and the magnitude of the weekend isn’t lost on Capps.

“We’ve talked about celebrating 75 years of NHRA in 2026 for quite some time now, and I can’t think of a track with more legacy or that better signifies the history of our sport than Pomona, the birthplace of NHRA Drag Racing,” Capps said.

“How cool that it lines up where this weekend is the 1,000th Funny Car race. I’ve been lucky enough not only to be a part of some of the big ones, but also to have had a front-row seat to some incredible matchups over the years with some of the biggest names, including my former boss, Don 'the Snake' Prudhomme. The Winternationals is one of the most historic events, so you really couldn’t have drawn it up better.”

If Capps does nab the 1,000th Funny Car race win, he’d prefer to do it with far less drama than it took in Phoenix. Capps’ car suffered a massive explosion during his second-round win, and the team had a furious thrash to return in time for the semifinals.

It all ended well, as Capps got past reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde in the final round, but back-to-back wins won’t be easy in the loaded category. Hyde moved up to second in points — one spot ahead of Capps — with Chad Green still in the points lead after his Gainesville win.

Other standouts include four-time champ Matt Hagan, defending event winner Beckman, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, and class newcomer Jordan Vandergriff. That level of competition makes the wins that much sweeter, especially during NHRA’s 75th Anniversary season.

“This is the coveted one right here,” Capps said of the special diamond Wally after winning in Phoenix. “You just think of the legacy and what’s gone into this. It’s unbelievable, and thanks to Wally Parks, first of all. NHRA being around 75 years, it’s so awesome, and at Ron Capps Motorsports, we’re just having a lot of fun right now.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features qualifying at 1:30 and 4 p.m. PT on Friday, April 10, and the final two rounds on Saturday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. Television coverage includes eliminations on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket.