Ron Capps wins first NHRA Funny Car championship

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

Ron Capps won his first NHRA Mello Yello Series Funny Car season title Saturday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

Capps earned enough points in qualifying in the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T to build an insurmountable lead over Matt Hagan.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," Capps said. "I almost gave up, not winning a championship, but trying so hard and wishing so hard, and just focused on winning races and all the accolades I've gotten this year especially the 50th win, passing some people I really looked up to in the sport. That's mind boggling to me every time I'm mentioned with those names.

"We got to the Countdown with a big lead and I thought, 'OK, now we really got a shot at this.' We said at the beginning of the year this is the toughest Funny Car class ever. Then it was the 50th anniversary of the Funny Car, which was awesome. It just kept snowballing. We kept digging and digging and digging and Rahn Tobler just had that eye."

Jack Beckman led Funny Car qualifying with the second-quickest Funny Car pass in NHRA history, a 3.825 at 332.10 in a Dodge Charger R/T. J.R. Todd was the fastest in Top Fuel with a 3.680 at 327.82. Points leader Jason Line topped the Pro Stock field at 6.545 at 211.33 in a Chevrolet Camaro, and Jerry Savoie led in Pro Stock Motorcycle at 6.825 at 194.97 on a Suzuki.

Full ladders for the Auto Club NHRA Finals:

Top Fuel:

Left side:

1. J.R. Todd
16. Troy Buff

8. Brittany Force
9. Richie Crampton

4. Antron Brown
13. Morgan Lucas

5. Leah Pritchett
12. Terry McMillen

Right side:

2. Doug Kalitta
15. Shawn Reed

7. Tony Schumacher
10. Clay Millican

3. Shawn Langdon
14. Tripp Tatum

6. Steve Torrence
11. Wayne Newby

Funny Car:

Left side:

1. Jack Beckman
16. John Bojec

8. Del Worsham
9. Tim Wilkerson

4. John Force
13. Cruz Pedregon

5. Ron Capps
12. Chad Head

Right side:

2. Courtney Force
15. Jim Campbell

7. Matt Hagan
10. Jeff Arend

3. Tommy Johnson, Jr.
14. Dave Richards

6. Robert Hight
11. Paul Lee

Pro Stock:

Left side:

1. Jason Line
16. Alan Prusiensky

8. Kenny Delco
9. Chris McGaha

4. Vincent Nobile
13. Jeg Coughlin, Jr.

5. Alex Laughlin
12. Erica Enders

Right side:

2. Bo Butner
15. Deric Kramer

7. Drew Skillman
10. Allen Johnson

3. Greg Anderson
14. Aaron Strong

6. Shane Gray
11. Matt Hartford

Pro Stock Motorcycle:

Left side:

1. Jerry Savoie
16. Angie Smith

8. Steve Johnson
9. Melissa Surber

4. Andrew Hines
13. Cory Reed

5. Angelle Sampey
12. Scott Pollacheck

Right side:

2. Eddie Krawiec
15. Shawn Gann

7. Hector Arana
10. Matt Smith

3. Hector Arana Jr.
14. Fred Camarena

6. Chip Ellis
11. LE Tonglet