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Paso Roles native wins first Top Fuel drag race

June 30, 2026

Ron Capps and Maddi Gordon

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Paso Robles native and Templeton High School graduate Maddi Gordon won her first Top Fuel drag race on Sunday.

Gordon, 22, won the race at the Summit Racing Equipment National Hot Road Association (NHRA) Nationals in Ohio. She became the eighth woman in NHRA history to win in the Top Fuel division. Gordon’s victory came in just her 10th professional start.

The Paso Robles native races for Ron Capps Motorsports, which is owned by San Luis Obispo native Ron Capps. Both Capps and Maddi Gordon’s father, Doug Gordon, also scored victories on Sunday, giving Ron Capps Motorsports a sweep at the NHRA Nationals. 

Capps won the Funny Car race, marking his 80th career victory. Doug Gordon won in the Top Alcohol Funny Car division. 

 


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6 Comments

The Gordon’s have been in drag racing a long time. So has Capps. Great to see this. On a side note,a number of years ago there was a strong movement to establish an 1/8 mile drag strip at the airport. City counsel shot it down. It would have been mainly for street cars with mufflers but they used noise as their reason along with ” a bunch of rowdy teenagers leaving afterwards”. Imagine using noise of muffled cars at an airport as their “reason”.


4

SLO airport was the scene for schedule drag racing in the late 50’s and through the 60’s. Many of the racers and car builders are still with us.


The problem today, is both runways being necessary 24/7 for flights. There is far too much air traffic to allow the runways to be used recreationally.


Now, had we kept the 1 mile oval on South Street instead…


0

Great to see locals dominating the NHRA! I guess “living the SLO life” doesn’t apply to them ;o)


13

Paso certainly does “roll”.


11

Midway through the NHRA racing season and rookie, Maddi Gordon, has won her 1st Wally. Incredible! It was a great weekend for Ron Capps Racing. Brilliant move by Capps to add a top fuel dragster to his racing business with a young female (from Paso Robles) driving the land rocket at 340 mph in a quarter mile. Fun to watch


17

1000′. Top Fuel hasn’t run a 1/4 mile for nearly 20 years.


2