Rookie Sensation Maddi Gordon Clocks Career-Best Numbers Despite Early Exit at NHRA Winternationals
The jump to the NHRA Top Fuel ranks is incredibly unforgiving, but rookie sensation Maddi Gordon is proving she has the mechanical grit and driving talent to hang with the drivers at the top. While the 2026 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona didn’t end with a Wally trophy for the newly formed Ron Capps Motorsports Top Fuel team, Gordon and her crew are walking away with a massive silver lining. Despite a first-round elimination on Sunday, the driver of the bright yellow-and-black Carlyle Tools dragster laid down her quickest elapsed time and fastest speed to date, cementing the weekend as a major developmental win.
A Tough Draw and Career-Best Passes Taking to social media following the early exit, Gordon remained incredibly positive about her team’s trajectory and the massive performance leaps they are making. “We may have lost early today, but it’s nothing to hang our heads about,” Gordon shared with her fans. “My Carlyle Tools team ran our quickest ET and speed, and made a solid pass in conditions we’ve never seen before.
My team is doing an incredible job. Losing always stings, but running career-best numbers definitely doesn’t! ” Going rounds in Top Fuel requires a perfect storm of reaction time, tune-up, and track conditions.
During Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, Gordon drew a brutal matchup against Justin Ashley, who is widely considered one of the best leavers in the sport . Apr 11, 2026; Pomona, CA, USA; NHRA top fuel driver Maddi Gordon during qualifying for the Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Mandatory Credit: Mark J.
Rebilas-Imagn Images Ashley strapped a blistering . 025 reaction time on the rookie and crossed the stripe with a 3. 71-second pass.