BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) Ron Capps raced to his second Funny Car victory of the season Sunday, beating teammate Jack Beckman in the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals.
Capps powered past Beckman in the final round to earn his 44th Funny Car victory and move into second behind John Force on NHRA's career wins list in the division.
In a battle between Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Chargers, Capps finished in 4.244 seconds at 258.32 mph, while Beckman trailed with a 4.480 at 205.16.
''It's crazy to think that I am No. 2 on that list,'' Capps said. ''I am not that good, so it just shows you from my time with Don Prudhomme on down to my team at Don Schumacher Racing, all of the great people I have worked with over the years, it's a credit to them.''
Capps beat John Hale, Matt Hagan and Robert Hight in earlier rounds, posting a string of low 4.0-second runs on a hot and humid day at Royal Purple Raceway.
''This is one of those races that when you can win it, you feel like you really earned it,'' Capps said after his third victory at the Houston-area track. ''With the conditions that we had to drive in and tune in this weekend it feels great to get a win here.''
Capps also won in March in Gainesville, Florida.
Doug Kalitta won in Top Fuel, and Erica Enders-Stevens topped the Pro Stock field.
Kalitta outran longtime rival Tony Schumacher in the final round for his 36th career victory and first win since last August in Washington. Kalitta, who passed ''Big Daddy'' Don Garlits on the Top Fuel wins list, drove his dragster to 3.820 at 324.98.
Defending Pro Stock season champion Enders-Stevens earned her second straight victory at the event and the 14th of her career. She beat fellow Texan Chris McGaha in the final round, powering her Chevy Camaro to a 6.571 at 211.73. Enders-Stevens moved into the series points lead for the first time this season.
Video by NHRA.
