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Maddi Gordon Sets Career Record at NHRA Midwest Nationals
Highlights
- Maddi Gordon set personal best and briefly broke track speed record.
- Gordon’s Top Fuel dragster featured special NAPA paint scheme.
- Qualified No. 3 for race day despite early eliminations exit.
- Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace rode in Gordon’s dragster.
- Focus now shifts to Oklahoma City event on October 16-18.
- Gordon aims to finish strong in Rookie of the Year campaign.
Maddi Gordon delivers a headline performance at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, briefly eclipsing the World Wide Technology Raceway speed record.
The Rookie of the Year contender pushes beyond 340 mph for the second time, qualifies third, then exits early on Sunday after tire smoke.
Her Top Fuel car carries a one-off NAPA Auto Care livery mirroring team owner Ron Capps’ Funny Car, reflecting the event’s title partnership.
Friday sets the tone. She opens with 3.757 seconds at 332.67 mph, then trims that to 3.708 seconds at 335.90 mph in the evening session.
Saturday morning brings the peak. Tuned by Rob Flynn and Troy Fasching, the car clocks 3.738 seconds at 340.65 mph before a sold-out crowd.
That speed tops Brittany Force’s previous track mark and improves Gordon’s own best of 340.22 mph.
Gordon’s 340.65 mph pass briefly eclipses the World Wide Technology Raceway speed record.
A Q4 attempt ends with tire smoke, but her earlier work secures the No. 3 seed for eliminations.
Round one pairs her with No. 14 Will Smith. Both leave almost together, but early smoke again halts her charge as Smith advances.
Despite the exit, the car shows strong back‑half speed; the team targets earlier power delivery.
Gordon strikes a pragmatic tone afterward. The one-off NAPA branding heightens the occasion, but the priority remains execution.
She highlights robust speed beyond half-track and an action plan to refine the launch and early incrementals for the next phase.
Attention now turns to the Texas NHRA FallNationals on October 16–18 at Texas Motorplex, as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series marches through the Countdown.
Fan engagement stands out across the weekend. Kenny Wallace samples a nitro warm-up in Gordon’s car, calling it one of his coolest experiences.
Autograph sessions are busy, and the NAPA livery draws attention from NAPA, Carlyle Tools, TERREPOWER, and Monster Energy guests.
Kenny Wallace’s pre-session warm-up in Gordon’s car adds a standout moment to a packed weekend.
The broader context remains encouraging. Gordon’s rookie campaign includes strong showings at Great Lakes and multiple advances, including quarterfinals runs.
With Dallas marking round four of the Countdown, consistent early-track execution could translate back-half pace into deeper Sunday progress.
Visual Summary
NEW PB: 340.65 mph 🏁
🎉
⭐
✨
🎇
💥
Fri
3.757s
332.67 mph
Fri PM
3.708s
335.90 mph
Sat (PB!)
3.738s
340.65 mph 🎯
Track Record Broken
Special NAPA
Tribute Livery
Tribute Livery
🤝
Coaching Kenny Wallace
(NASCAR legend in a Top Fuel cockpit!)
vs
1st Round Drama: Tire Smoke
(Smith Advances)
😢
Rookie of the Year Charge Continues
→ Dallas Next!
NAPA Team Speed
Personal Best
Personal Best
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
