Ron Capps grabbed center stage at the NHRA SuperNationals, posting the quickest Funny Car run in association history to claim his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season.
Capps posted a time of 3.964 seconds at 320.89 mph during Friday night's qualifying session, good enough for his 12th career top qualifying spot. He has made four consecutive finals and claimed one victory since Rahn Tobler took over as crew chief for his Dodge Charger in early April.
''Every autograph today the fans wanted 3.96 written next to my name, and it's just pretty neat,'' Capps said. ''It's starting to sink in. This track has been around forever. It's neat to give this track what we did last night with Top Fuel and Funny Car because it's a legendary track on our circuit.''
Capps will open Sunday's eliminations at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park against journeyman racer Bob Bode. He needs a time of 4.004 seconds or quicker in eliminations to certify his time as an NHRA national record, which carries a 20-point bonus.
Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the top qualifiers in their categories heading into eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.
Massey also had a memorable performance Friday, guiding his dragster down the track in 3.728 seconds at 329.14 mph to earn his fourth career No. 1 qualifying position.
Massey, who has won three times this season in four finals and leads the series standings, will face T.J. Zizzo in the opening round. He needs a 3.765 or quicker to turn his 3.728 into an NHRA national record.
Line recorded his fifth No. 1 of the season and 29th of his career with his Friday run of 6.518 at 212.76 in a Pontiac GXP. He will face Ford Mustang driver Grace Howell in the opening round.
Howell is the sixth woman to compete in Pro Stock in NHRA history.
Krawiec, an Englishtown native and former Raceway Park general manager, secured his second No. 1 of the season and 11th of his career with a track-record showing of 6.782 at 197.48 on a Harley-Davidson. He will face 70-year-old Suzuki rider Joe DeSantis in the opening round of eliminations.
