Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil. |
Capps Gets First Indy Win, Joins S. Torrence, J. Coughlin Jr. and Sampey in Winner’s Circle at Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals Presented by Pennzoil
Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil and also giving the longtime standout a win at every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and third straight at Indy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capps won for the first time in 2020 and 65th time in his career with a final-round run of 4.110 seconds at 294.63 mph in his 11,000-hp NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat J.R. Todd in a battle of former world champs.
Defending and back-to-back Top Fuel world champ Torrence picked up his second win of the year and 38th overall in unconventional fashion last Sunday, outlasting Terry McMillen in the finals with a run of 4.273 at 224.17 in his 11,000-hp Capco Contractors dragster.
In Pro Stock, it was an all-Coughlin final round, as five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove past nephew and first-time Pro Stock finalist Troy Coughlin Jr. in the championship round with a 6.680 at 206.92 in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro.
Sampey picked up her first win since 2016 and 43rd overall, going 6.880 at 196.07 in the final round on her Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson EBR to beat Chris Bostick.
 The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6. |
Darlington To Host Limited Fans for Southern 500
The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6. The “Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR” also includes the Southern 500, Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Saturday, September 5, and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Sunday, September 6. A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500 in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities, as well as related safety protocols and procedures. All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing throughout the venue. For more information, visit www.darlingtonraceway.com.
USRA Announces Deal to Host Nationals Event at Lucas Oil Speedway
United States Racing Association (USRA) officials have announced a new agreement with the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, to host the Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass for at least three years beginning in 2021. The agreement means the Summit USRA Nationals will have a new home for the eighth running of the event next year. The dates are October 7–9, 2021; October 6–8, 2022, and October 5–7, 2023. The seventh annual Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass is still slated for October 1–3, 2020, at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster, City, Iowa. Officials from Lucas Oil Speedway also announced that American Racer USRA Stock Cars will be a regular weekly fixture. Beginning in 2021 and for at least three years, the class will take part in the track’s Saturday night Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series programs, along with the Modifieds and B-Mods that are already under USRA sanctioning.
NHRA Southern Nationals Canceled Due to COVID-19 Concerns
The NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, scheduled for August 28-30, has been canceled due the current COVID-19 pandemic. NHRA made this decision after exhaustive deliberation with track representatives, health officials and government authorities. NHRA and Atlanta Dragway came to this conclusion after carefully weighing the significance of the 40th anniversary of the NHRA Southern Nationals. The anniversary of the historic race will be celebrated in 2021. Event ticket holders will receive more information from NHRA via email soon and are encouraged to visit www.nhra.com to learn about their options.
Spire Motorsports Purchases LFR, Expands to Two Cars
Spire Motorsports has completed an agreement to purchase the assets of Leavine Family Racing (LFR). As part of the purchase, Spire Motorsports will acquire LFR’s NASCAR charter, the team’s race shop and all owned inventory. As a technical partner of Joe Gibbs Racing, LFR’s current fleet of vehicles and chassis will be returned to Joe Gibbs Racing upon completion of the 2020 season. Spire Motorsports will expand to a two-car operation in 2021 and relocate to LFR’s existing race shop in Concord, North Carolina.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.