MADDI GORDON Captures Maiden Top Fuel Win; Capps Team Scores Nitro Double

July 1, 2026

• MADDI GORDON claimed her debut Top Fuel victory at Norwalk, defeating four-time champion Antron Brown in the final. The rookie driver for Ron Capps Motorsports’ Carlyle Tools Dragster delivered the team’s first nitro double alongside mentor Capps’ Funny Car win.
• The Gordon family dominated Sunday with MADDI’s breakthrough Top Fuel win coming alongside father Doug Gordon’s victory in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Three-time champion Doug’s daughter nearly fell off a motorcycle when learning Capps wanted her for 2026.
• Behind the celebration, team owner Capps revealed financial struggles of operating an independent two-car operation without backing like Kalitta or Force families. Joe Maynard’s financing and John Force holding Austin Prock’s dragster proved crucial to launching the team.
• Capps emphasized he and wife invest everything back into Ron Capps Motorsports, barely drawing salaries while treading water financially. The double victory provides critical prize money for bills as the former driver transitions to small business ownership without formal training.

denso nhra sonoma nationals, funny car, nhra top fuel, ron capps motorsports