PHOENIX — In the course of the first spherical of Humorous Automobile eliminations on the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, Ron Capps suffered an explosion earlier than the end line.
His automotive crossed the middle line and struck the left guardwall earlier than coming to a cease.
Capps was alert and exited the automotive beneath his personal energy and was examined onsite by NHRA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Floor earlier than being launched.
“We noticed (Austin) Prock in entrance of us go 3.93 and Guido (Dean Antonelli, Capps’ crew chief) set us as much as go 3.92, 3.93 and, (I) hit the gasoline, didn’t see Blake (Alexander), was working nice like yesterday within the closing spherical (of qualifying) and simply occurred so quick,” Capps started.
“To me within the automotive, it simply smoked the tires just a little bit after which, ‘kaboom.’ Was very like Seattle final yr within the sense that when the hearth first occurred, it was a convertible however there was a variety of hearth in my face, and I used to be simply attempting to settle it down. Sort of bouncing round after which it needed to go left. I used to be seeing John Drive’s accident.”
Capps was referring to John Drive’s violent crash final June on the NHRA Virginia Nationals the place the 16-time Humorous Automobile champion sustained a number of accidents, together with a Traumatic Mind Harm.
Drive has been recovering from the damage since.
.@RonCapps28 walked away from an enormous explosion that despatched him on a wild journey into the wall throughout RD 1 of the #ArizonaNats.
Eliminations are on @FS1 at 6:30p ET. @TeamRonCapps pic.twitter.com/aViQNrPQgd
— NHRA (@NHRA) March 23, 2025
“We had been the automotive behind him final yr, we had an amazing view of it sadly, however it was bizarre, I didn’t have a lot steering, (it) was a tough left,” Capps stated. “I knew I used to be nonetheless touring quick, so in my head, I knew it was not going to be good and I’m simply picturing Drive’s accident as I’m heading to the wall and simply braced. I didn’t count on to be awake after hitting the wall and simply braced one of the best you’ll be able to.
“I hit the wall after which, I used to be nonetheless awake and there was nonetheless some hearth, however I used to be like, ‘Wow!’ Knew it hit, however bought on the brakes and the shoots had been already out. First off, NHRA security did its job. Simply watched the replay and the shoots had been out like they need to be. They stated it pushed the wall again and so they wanted to restore it earlier than the subsequent automobiles went, and that’s a tribute to PBRC chassis, first off, however Guido (pause), one of many causes I like Guido is he’s excessive, not simply with the automotive, however is safety-conscious with the automotive.
“So on this sense, we simply had me fitted for a brand new seat and so they put new head pads in. I needed to get out of the automotive and thank John Drive as a result of sadly, Eric Medlen began this after we misplaced Eric, however John’s life was spared with (the security enhancements since) Eric’s accident. And then you definately quick ahead, John’s life was most likely spared a second time due to a earlier accident and I for certain walked away from mine due to Drive’s.
“Fortunately, we and NHRA have realized from the unhealthy stuff that has occurred. I’m to search out out the G-Forces and velocity I hit at, however fortunately, everybody’s been on high of security. We’ll determine it out. Final yr, we broke the brand-new automotive when it crashed and we went to the backup which just about gained the race and a earlier championship however now, we now have a backup automotive that’s simply pretty much as good as the primary. Grateful we now have such nice companions with NAPA and Toyota and the blokes shall be prepared for Pomona.”
Eliminations are ongoing at Firebird Motorsports Park.
