Three-time Humorous Automobile champion Ron Capps snapped a 33-race winless streak when he received two weeks in the past in Bristol. Capps and the remainder of the celebrities of the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence return to racing this weekend on the fifth annual American Insurgent Mild Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park for an additional weekend of action-packed racing.
Capps wheeled his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Humorous Automobile to the winner’s circle for the primary time since 2023 two weeks in the past in Bristol, offering a much-needed increase to the workforce. Capps hopes the win the carry some momentum into Richmond because the summer time heats up for NHRA groups.
The cease in Richmond is the third occasion in a busy four-race June, which means Capps might be rolling at a really perfect time within the loaded Humorous Automobile ranks.
“Coming off a win like we did at Bristol the place we noticed situations change so quickly, it at all times goes again to me bragging in regards to the NAPA workforce with (crew chief) Dean “Guido” Antonelli and with the ability to adapt rapidly,” Capps stated.
“Coming as much as an occasion that has all three qualifying runs on Saturday after which the race on Sunday, it’s wanting prefer it’s going to be an awesome present for the followers. And one factor in regards to the VMP facility, once they redid the monitor, they actually did it proper. It’s among the finest monitor surfaces on tour and with the situations we’re anticipating to see this weekend, it’s going to check each workforce. We really feel nice, however you possibly can by no means rely something out with the Humorous Automobile class with it being as powerful as it’s proper now.”
Final season, Doug Kalitta (High Gas), Austin Prock (Humorous Automobile) and Gaige Herrera (Professional Inventory Motorbike) all received in Richmond throughout the two-day occasion. This 12 months’s occasion, which is the ninth of 20 races throughout the 2025 season within the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence, will probably be broadcast on FOX broadcast community and FS1, together with eliminations protection starting at 4 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, June 22.
This weekend’s American Insurgent Mild Virginia NHRA Nationals will give groups a singular problem with its two-day format that includes three qualifying classes on Saturday and race day on Sunday. Additionally scheduled for the weekend would be the well-liked Mission #2Fast2Tasty. Together with his win in Bristol, Capps will rematch with semifinalist Dave Richards whereas Bristol runner-up Paul Lee will tackle Daniel Wilkerson.
Sweeping the weekend received’t be straightforward, because the Humorous Automobile class continues to be a extremely aggressive class with six totally different winners incomes race wins by means of eight races.
Main the factors is reigning Humorous Automobile world champion Prock. Nonetheless, he suffered back-to-back first spherical loses in Epping and Bristol. Phoenix winner Paul Lee sits second in factors whereas Prock’s John Pressure Racing teammate Jack Beckman is third after his two wins this season. Others to observe will probably be Epping winner J.R. Todd, in addition to four-time champion and Virigina native Matt Hagan.
“We’ve talked time and time once more about this level within the season, the place we’ve acquired quite a lot of races back-to-back, it’s scorching out, hotter monitor temperatures, trickier situations for the drivers and crew chiefs to navigate,” Capps stated. “With our upcoming race this weekend in Richmond, it’s wanting prefer it’s going to be very heat and that bodes nicely for our workforce.”
Former High Gas champion Kalitta received his second American Insurgent Mild Virginia NHRA Nationals final season over his teammate Shawn Langdon. The Kalitta Motorsports teammates have dominated the Mission #2Fast2Tasty this season, profitable six of the seven Challenges this season. The opposite winner was motorsports legend and factors chief Tony Stewart, because of his two wins on the season.
Herrera, the two-time reigning champion, as soon as once more leads the Professional Inventory Motorbike factors. He has two wins on the season and at the moment leads six-time champion Matt Smith. Different riders to observe will probably be Bristol winner Richard Gadson, Smith’s spouse, Angie, in addition to Chase Van Sant, Steve Johnson and Jianna Evaristo.
Together with motion within the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence, followers can even take pleasure in racing within the Congruity NHRA Professional Mod Drag Racing Sequence, NHRA Holley EFI Manufacturing facility X and Pingel High Gas Motorbike, offering a full weekend of continuous leisure.
Race followers aged 21 and older may have the prospect to take pleasure in American Insurgent Mild – America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Structure Loving, Nationwide Anthem Singing, Stand Your Floor Beer – on the facility whereas taking within the unimaginable motion on the monitor. Andy Ross, Chairman and CEO of American Insurgent Beer and singer-songwriter, can even present leisure with a live performance together with his band throughout the jam-packed occasion.
All weekend, followers will probably be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the principle leisure hub within the pits. The stage hosts Nitro College, meet and greets, autograph classes and extra. Richmond race followers can benefit from the particular pre-race ceremonies that introduce every driver and consists of the fan favourite SealMaster Monitor Stroll. Followers are additionally invited to congratulate the winners on the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday.
As at all times, followers get a pit go to essentially the most highly effective and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Followers can see their favourite groups in motion and servicing their vehicles, get autographs and extra. They’ll additionally go to NHRA’s Producers Halfway, the place sponsors and distributors create an thrilling ambiance.
NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence qualifying roars into motion with three rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, main right into a can’t-miss raceday with eliminations starting at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 22. Tv protection consists of qualifying motion at 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, main into eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To buy tickets to the American Insurgent Mild Virginia NHRA Nationals, go to nhra.evenue.net/list/RV. For extra details about the NHRA, together with the 2025 schedule, go to www.nhra.com.
This story was initially printed on June 18, 2025. 
