One to Watch: Maddi Gordon is Carrying a lot of Momentum into the 2026 Season

Top Fuel Rookie Maddi Gordon is quickly capturing the hearts of many NHRA race fans with her beaming enthusiasm, outgoing personality, and early success on the track.

The 21 year old rookie made her debut in a Top Fuel Dragster at the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL. In her first weekend driving for 3x Funny Car Champion Ron Capps and Ron Capps Motorsports, she was able to qualify to race on Sunday. After four rounds of qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the rising star was able to lock in the 15th qualifying spot.

When Sunday arrived, Gordon showed up in an impressive fashion. First round Eliminations, she lined up next to Kalitta Motorsport’s Shawn Langdon. Gordon defeated Langdon and the grandstands erupted. With tons of enthusiasm, Gordon was ready to face her next competitor. That ended up being 8x Top Fuel Champion, Tony Schumacher. Surely, those accolades could get the best of anyone Schumacher lined up next to. It didn’t stop Maddi Gordon. She defeated him in a dramatic fashion, leading her to the Semifinals.

Once the semifinals rolled around, it was time for Gordon to go head-to-head with 2x Top Fuel Champion, Doug Kalitta. Unfortunate for Gordon, Kalitta stopped her in her tracks and went on to be the runner-up at the Gatornationals.

Now, two weeks have passed since the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals and Maddi Gordon is back in action at the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals. On Friday, Gordon left the track as the provisional #1 qualifier going into Saturday.

About Maddi Gordon

Maddi is the daughter of Top Alcohol Funny Car driver, Doug Gordon. She started racing in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Series. There she won several Division 7 Championships.

She worked her way through Super Comp and Super Pro. She then earned her Top Alcohol Funny Car license in 2023 and competed for multiple years. During that time she won an NHRA National Event, deeming her the 100th woman to win an NHRA National Event.

In 2025, Ron Capps approached the Gordon family about an open Top Fuel seat he had created with hopes that Maddi would drive it. 2026 is her rookie season driving a Top Fuel Dragster for Ron Capps Motorsports. She is sponsored by Carlyle Tools and Monster Energy.

About Ron Capps Motorsports

Ron Capps Motorsports was founded in 2021 by 3x Funny Car Champion, Ron Capps. The team is based in Brownsburg, IN. and travels the NHRA Drag Racing Series circuit each year. Ron Capps pilots the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car and Maddi Gordon pilots the Carlyle Tools / Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster for the team.