Ron Capps Wins NHRA Funny Car Trophy at Phoenix After Fiery Explosion

Shawn Langdon scores third-straight Top Fuel victory, Dallas Glenn tops in Pro Stock.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 6:37am

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Ron Capps earned his 78th career NHRA Funny Car victory on Sunday at the FMP Arizona Nationals in Chandler, Arizona, despite a fiery explosion in the quarterfinals that damaged his car. Capps went on to defeat 2025 Phoenix winner Paul Lee in the semifinals and Spencer Hyde in the final round. Shawn Langdon recorded his third consecutive Top Fuel victory at the Firebird Motorsports Park, while Dallas Glenn won in Pro Stock, defeating KB Titan Racing teammate Cody Coughlin.

Why it matters

Capps' victory after overcoming a dramatic in-race explosion highlights his resilience and experience as a veteran Funny Car driver. Langdon's three-peat at the Phoenix event demonstrates his and his team's dominance at the track, while Glenn's win over his teammate showcases the competitive nature of the Pro Stock category.

The details

In the Funny Car quarterfinals, Capps' engine exploded in a ball of flames after the finish line, cracking the body and flattening the headers against the guard wall. Capps was able to exit the car on his own power and went on to defeat Paul Lee and Spencer Hyde to claim the victory. In Top Fuel, Langdon earned his 22nd career win, crediting his crew chief Brian Husen and the Kalitta Air team for their work in making the car perform well in the challenging conditions. In Pro Stock, Glenn defeated KB Titan Racing teammate Cody Coughlin in the final round, earning his 22nd career victory.

  • On Sunday, March 23, 2026, the NHRA FMP Arizona Nationals took place at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.

The players

Ron Capps

A Funny Car owner-driver who earned his 78th career NHRA Funny Car victory at the event.

Shawn Langdon

The Top Fuel driver who recorded his third consecutive victory at the Firebird Motorsports Park, earning his 22nd career NHRA win.

Dallas Glenn

The Pro Stock driver who defeated his KB Titan Racing teammate Cody Coughlin in the final round to earn his 22nd career NHRA victory.

Paul Lee

The 2025 Phoenix Funny Car winner who was defeated by Capps in the semifinals.

Spencer Hyde

The Funny Car driver who was defeated by Capps in the final round, still seeking his first NHRA victory.

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What they’re saying

“Oh, its' so heavy. And this is the coveted one right here, man. Snake [Don Prudhomme, his former boss and the NHRA legend] was here all weekend. I mean, just think of the legacy and what's gone into this. This is unbelievable. You want to just take these and chop them all up in a thousand, 6,000, different [pieces to share with those who have contributed to his success]. This is so awesome to win here. I can't even get over this thing. This is awesome.”

— Ron Capps

“I really wanted one of these diamond Wallys. Aren't these things cool? Look at this.”

— Dallas Glenn

“Everybody at KB Titan Racing, they've had this car on rails today. This thing has been… glued to the track. It's hot. It's tricky out here. I don't know how I got a [.0]27 out of that. It's not easy to cut a light right now. This feels good.”

— Dallas Glenn

“Honestly, it's all about the team you surround yourself with. We got behind the eight ball, but Brian Husen and the whole team, everybody at Kalitta Air, we got a great group behind us. We knew it was going to be a good final. We got a pretty good run here going on in Phoenix, so we might need to talk to the NHRA about putting on a second one now. To win three-straight here is a credit to my team.”

— Shawn Langdon

“It's a major miracle to be here. I had a real awesome car.”

— Justin Bond, Pro Mod driver

What’s next

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will head west to Southern California's In 'N' Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip for the third of 20 races this season.

The takeaway

Capps' resilience in overcoming a dramatic in-race explosion, Langdon's continued dominance at the Phoenix track, and Glenn's victory over his teammate showcase the competitive spirit and technical excellence of the top drivers and teams in the NHRA Funny Car, Top Fuel, and Pro Stock categories.