Words compiled from team press releases by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis and Mark Rebilas
Art Direction by Clifford Tunnell

Funny Car driver Ron Capps ended a one-year winless streak Sunday, July 18, with his victory at the 23rd annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.

The other winners at the 15th race in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

None of the three winners from Seattle repeated so there will be no chance for a sweep of this year’s Western Swing.

TOP FUEL

Larry Dixon (3.879, 317.12) and the Al-Anabi team defeated arch-rival Tony Schumacher (4.006, 300.73) and the U.S. Army team to remain perfect in final rounds this season, winning for the eighth time in eight trips there including twice against Schumacher.

“You know when you’re racing Tony, he’s won a lot of races and the last six championships so you know he’s going to keep you honest,” Dixon said. “You’ve got to go up there and fire your best shot and hope it’s enough. I enjoy racing him. When you (beat the U.S. Army team), there’s no blower belt coming off, you know he’s going to make you earn it so when you do win it makes it that much more gratifying.”

The win capped off a weekend sweep for Dixon, who qualified No. 1 and was competing in his 100th career final round.

“The car was flawless, unbelievable job by Alan Johnson just pulling everyone on the team. You see those numbers, running 84 a couple of times, to me that humbling. They were on their game. They weren’t leaving anything in their back pocket,” Dixon said.

U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher laid down a 4.006-second pass at 300.73 mph against Dixon, but the latter recorded a quicker 3.879-second run at 317.12 mph to claim his eighth win of the year.