The Houston grandstands were pretty crowded.  (Ron Lewis photo)

NHRA pros at Houston

Points leaders shift as Kalitta, Capps and Enders-Stevens nab wins

Results compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis and Joe McHugh

Ron Capps raced to his second Funny Car victory of the season Sunday, April 26, at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Royal Purple Raceway near Houston.

(Joe McHugh photo)

TOP FUEL

Doug Kalitta outran longtime rival Tony Schumacher in the final round to earn his 36th career victory and his first win since last August in Seattle. Kalitta, who passed “Big Daddy” Don Garlits on the all-time Top Fuel wins list with the effort, drove his Mac Tools dragster to a winning time of 3.820 seconds at 324.98 mph while Schumacher’s U.S. Army machine slowed near the finish line with a 4.014 at 225.60.

“I’ve had a couple dry spells,” said Kalitta, who beat Troy Buff, Larry Dixon and top qualifier Spencer Massey in the opening rounds. “It’s one of those deals where you never know when you’re going to win one of these, so you have to appreciate the opportunity and appreciate these wins when you get them. It’s a good feeling.”

It is the first time Kalitta has defeated eight-time world champ Schumacher in a final round since Brainerd in 2003, a stretch of 10 consecutive final rounds.

"We got by him, so it wasn’t until the end that we got him," Kalitta said. "Tony’s a tough competitor, and here lately, we’ve had a tough time getting around him. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.”

With the win Kalitta moved to fifth in the series standings and Schumacher moved into the series points lead with the runner-up finish. He became the sixth driver to win an event in 2015.