Event 6 of 20
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 17 – 19
Route 66 Raceway Highlights:
- Two-time winner
- 2017 Route 66 Nationals
- 2005 Fall race (discontinued after 2005)
- Five-time runner-up (2007, 2016, 2018, 2023; 2002 Fall race)
- 2013 No. 1 qualifier
2023 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified sixth; Event runner-up (defeated Terry Haddock in E1, Bob Tasca in E2, Chad Green in E3; defeated by Tim Wilkerson in E4)
Last Event (Charlotte 1):
Qualified fifth; First round exit (defeated by J.R. Todd, Alexis DeJoria in E1)
Career Statistics:
634 races; 76 wins, 37 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- Capps captured his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge victory at Chicago
- Went on to win the overall #2Fast2Tasty championship later in the year (three Mission Challenge wins overall in 2023)
- As the returning event runner-up, Capps is looking to take his 2023 performance one step further on Sunday and score his first win of the season
Fan Events:
- Friday, 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Don Schumacher tribute autograph session in the Schumacher Family Tent
- Saturday, 10 – 10:30 a.m., Team Toyota autograph session at the Toyota Racing Experience midway display
Quotable:
“These last two weeks off from racing have seemed so long, and I know our team is ready to get back on the track. Throughout the years, going to Route 66, I think we all sort of took it for granted, and the fact that we’ve been able to go back these past two years has been great, especially for our NAPA Auto Care team. Getting to the final round last year and coming so close, we’re hungry for a Chicago win this weekend. From our standards, we’ve started the season a little slow compared to what we’re used to, but I think it’s all warranted with the combination change that Guido (crew chief Dean Antonelli) wanted to make for us to get better, and I really feel like the car is on the verge of breaking out.
“Our fans are great in Chicago, we’ve got so much excitement and things going on with the celebration of life for Don Schumacher. It would certainly be a nice trophy to add in memory of Don. Racing with DSR that long, we have a lot of Chicago friends that we consider family that we’ll get to see, so can’t wait, should be a great weekend.”
ABM Communications PR
