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POMONA, Calif. --
Predicting it would take a finish of the semifinals or better at each of the NHRA's six playoff races, Capps has done just that at the first five stops and takes an 86-point lead over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan into historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona for the Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 10-13. On the precipice of that elusive first world championship, Capps, whose 50 wins are the most in NHRA history for a driver without a title, is enjoying the moments and build-up heading to what would be the biggest highlight in his spectacular career. "I'm just trying to stay busy and we just have to keep doing what we've been doing," said Capps, who has finished second on four different occasions (1998, 2000, 2005, 2012). "As close as we've been before, you don't want to take anything for granted so we just have to keep going. You can tell and feel that there's a lot of excitement but it boils down to you just have to keep staying busy and stay in your normal mode. But there's no doubt Pomona is going to be a lot of fun."
The California native has a number of fond memories at Pomona, but being able to clinch a championship - and possibly win the race in the process - would overtake them all for Capps, who has five wins and 10 final round appearances in 2016. "Pomona is such an important track to me personally," Capps said. "I've driven for two legends in Don Prudhomme and Don Schumacher, and the fact that Wally Parks' name is there when you make a run, there's just so much history there. It's such a big race to begin with and then you add all the excitement of what's going on, to clinch there and be crowned champion there would be surreal." Capps has envisioned those scenarios leading up to the 2016 finale, but he and his team, led by crew chief Rahn Tobler, remain just as focused on the task at hand.
"Every November when the season ends and you look at why you didn't finish better or what you could have done better, we haven't had to look far," Capps said. "We had lost a lot of points in qualifying and we worked really hard on that. That's been a big difference. To get 50-plus round wins in a season you know you're going to be in the hunt, and I knew if we kept going rounds we would be okay. We've just stayed aggressive, haven't changed our approach and tried to take care of business." Antron Brown clinched his second straight Top Fuel world championship in Vegas and will try to end his banner year with his eighth win in 2016. Two former Pro Stock champions, Greg Anderson and Jason Line, are in a tight points battle, with Line and his eight wins this season leading Anderson by just 19 points.
The Auto Club NHRA Finals also features competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. As always, fans have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying feature two rounds at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and two final qualifying rounds on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Tickets are available at www.NHRA.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-884-NHRA. Kids 12 & under can see it all for free with a general admission ticket, while all students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID.
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