Ron Capps Motorsports Fuels ‘Tool Wars’ With Matching Carlyle Liveries At Indy

Ron Capps Motorsports is bringing a little extra attitude to the 72nd Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.

When Ron Capps and Maddi Gordon roll into the lanes at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, both 12,000-horsepower nitro cars will be wearing matching Carlyle Tools venom-green liveries. Gordon’s Top Fuel dragster normally carries the Carlyle look, while Capps’ Funny Car will trade its familiar NAPA Auto Care colors for the weekend to match his teammate.

The visual is only part of the story. With the U.S. Nationals backed by one of Carlyle Tools’ competitors, Capps is leaning directly into what he calls the “tool wars.” And if Ron Capps Motorsports can leave Indy with another nitro double, it would make the whole thing even more entertaining.

Capps Brings A Little ‘Tool Wars’ Fun To Indy

Capps has never been shy about embracing the personality and spectacle that come with NHRA drag racing, and the U.S. Nationals gives teams a perfect opportunity to do something different.

“We always like to do something a little extra special for Indy and with Maddi in the Carlyle car this year, and this being an event that’s sponsored by one of Carlyle’s competitors, we really wanted to play into that,” said Capps, a two-time U.S. Nationals champion, who will make his 31st appearance at the historic event this weekend. “It’s great that so many tool companies want to be involved with NHRA teams and invest their marketing dollars in our sport, and we really wanted to lean into that and have a little fun with the ‘tool wars.’”

Capps won’t stop with the race car. He’ll also trade his usual blue-and-yellow NAPA Auto Care firesuit for one matching Gordon’s Carlyle uniform, while the RCM crew will wear Carlyle Tools shirts throughout the weekend. So, for Indy at least, Ron Capps Motorsports is going fully green.

Capps Has The Funny Car Regular-Season Title In Reach

Capps enters the U.S. Nationals third in the Funny Car standings and within one round win of the points lead.

The three-time world champion has occupied the No. 1 position during nine of the season’s first 13 events thanks to three victories in four final-round appearances. That makes Indy especially important.

The U.S. Nationals awards points-and-a-half, which means every elimination round carries more weight than normal. A strong Monday could put Capps back on top and potentially deliver the regular-season championship before the Countdown to the Championship begins. Capps and the NAPA team also stayed behind after Brainerd to test, giving them additional data heading into the biggest race of the regular season.

“Obviously, we go into every event with our sights set on the winner’s circle, but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t gunning for it a little harder this weekend because let’s be honest, how sweet would it be for the Carlyle cars to get the W at Cornwell’s race,” added Capps. “Maddi and her team were so close in Brainerd. They’re just out there making lap after consistent lap, and there’s no one that doesn’t look at that team as a bonafide threat in the Countdown. As for our Funny Car team, we’re less than one round-win out of first. We stayed behind after Brainerd to test and feel really good about our chances of picking up a fourth diamond Wally trophy and reclaiming that No. 1 ranking to win the regular season championship.”

Maddi Gordon Arrives At Indy With Real Momentum

Gordon’s U.S. Nationals debut in the professional ranks comes at a good time.

The Rookie of the Year contender enters the weekend fifth in Top Fuel points after reaching her second final round of the season at Brainerd. She’s also already proven that she can win at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

During her two seasons competing in Top Alcohol Funny Car, Gordon won the 2024 Cleetus & Cars event at the facility. This weekend, though, will be her first time competing in the U.S. Nationals as a professional Top Fuel driver. That raises the pressure and the opportunity. Gordon has been one of the more consistent rookie performers in the nitro ranks, and her ability to repeatedly make clean runs has turned the Carlyle Tools dragster into a genuine Sunday threat.

The U.S. Nationals has a way of magnifying everything. A win at Indy carries more prestige. The crowds are bigger. The qualifying battle is more intense. Championship points matter more. And with the regular season ending at the Big Go, there isn’t another race afterward to make up for a bad weekend.

The objective for Capps is to reclaim the Funny Car points lead and chase a fourth Diamond Wally of the season. Gordon is looking for another chance to build on a rookie season that has already produced a Top Fuel victory and multiple final-round appearances.