Maddi Gordon Scores First National Event Victory, Makes History as the 100th Different Woman to Win
At just twenty years old, Maddi Gordon etched her name into the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car history books Sunday as she hoisted a national event Wally for the first time and became the 100th different woman to win. The Beta Motorcycles Morro Bay Cabinets TAFC was the quickest and fastest car during Sunday eliminations to secure the well-deserved win at Pacific Raceways.
“It’s super exciting the be the 100th different female to win a national event. What an extremely cool stat, I’m so happy to be a part of it,” Gordon commented on the historic win. “It doesn’t get any better than this, I couldn’t dream any bigger than this and I’m so thankful for my family and sponsors that stuck with me as the new driver in TAFC this year.”
After struggling to get down the track and experiencing tire shake in the first two qualifying sessions, the Gordon family changed tune ups and powered down the track with a 5.480 second 268.81 mph run to move up to number two on the qualifying sheet. Gordon was due to race Mike Doushgounian in first round but when Doushgounian didn’t make the call, she got a bye into the second round and backed up her best qualifying pass with another 5.480 at 268.38 mph.
With seven cars competing in TAFC, the field was set on an 8-car bracket meaning the second round was the semifinal. Gordon ran a 5.453 at 267.85 mph against Stan Sipos’ 5.495 at 265.53 mph in the semis but the round was decided at the starting line when Sipos left early and triggered a red light. Gordon’s Beta Motorcycles Chevrolet Camaro carried the same stout performance into the final against Brian Hough. Hough’s car appeared to break traction and shutoff at about half track, while Gordon powered on with a 5.459 second pass at 268.49 mph. When Gordon coasted to a stop at the top end of the track, she was handed the event trophy and medal along with a sign inscribed with ‘100th Woman to Win an NHRA National Event’. As she finished up her winner’s interview, Gordon was embraced by her family to celebrate their best accomplishment of the season so far.
It’s been an incredible rookie season for the new driver, but she is still looking to improve her skills as a driver, “my mind set hasn’t really changed for the rest of the season after the win here in Seattle. I still have a lot more to learn in the car so continuing to improve my driving remains my biggest focus right now.”
Gordon’s crew is made up of her sister – Macie, mom – Christina, dad – Doug, grandma – Cheryl, and grandpa – Mike. The same crew that turned the wrenches in 2023 when Doug won the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series TAFC national championship. They won 18 national events and 3 national championships together between 2020 and 2023 while Doug was driving so they know what the car is capable of. Going into the 2024 season, the goal was to get Maddi more acclimated in the car and make solid passes with no expectations of winning or even competing for a championship. But now, Gordon is about halfway through her rookie year and with the amount of success she has experienced this early in her career, there’s no doubt she’ll be a contender for a national championship. She currently sits second in the national points standings behind Sean Bellemeur.
Gordon’s 2024 successes include five previous final rounds; Las Vegas and Charlotte 4-Wide national events, as well as Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Kansas City regional events. She collected regional event wins at Indianapolis and Kansas City.
Next weekend, the Gordon family will switch gears and race with their Top Dragster and Super Comp cars at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-27. Macie will compete in Top Dragster as she did in 2023, and Doug will pilot the Super Comp dragster continuing his rookie campaign in the class. The NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., August 15-18 will be the next stop on the TAFC schedule for the Gordon’s.
This story was originally published on July 22, 2024.
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