Drag racer Doug Gordon defends Top Alcohol Funny Car title
Gordons will now compete at their final events as National Champions, attempt to earn LORDS West Region Championship
– Paso Robles drag racer Doug Gordon clenched his third and final NHRA National Championship in Top Alcohol Funny Car Saturday evening at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. The outcomes of other matchups in the second round of eliminations and Gordon winning his race against Matt Gill allowed the Beta Motorcycles Morro Bay Cabinets team to mathematically lock up the championship and defend their 2022 title.
NHRA race control reviewed all the possible outcomes after the round and determined Gordon was the 2023 champion. An emotional celebration ensued at the top end and he was awarded the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Championship trophy. He was the first National Champion crowned in 2023, a very different circumstance than last year’s championship chase that came down to the NHRA Finals in Pomona, California.
Gordon shared his thoughts after the top-end ceremony, “It’s been an amazing competition this year and we accomplished our huge goal of winning a third championship. It has been close all year and we love racing Bellemeur and the Bartone family, they are such good friends and competitors. Things really changed when Beta Motorcycles came on a few years ago and Lucas Oil, Hoosier Tires, and NGK have really helped us out. We work so hard to do this and drag racing is everything to our family, it’s amazing to be here with my parents, my wife, and my daughters. To win another one is phenomenal.”
The Gordon family decided 2023 would be Gordon’s farewell season as they prepare his daughter, Maddi, to race the funny car starting in 2024. The goal this year was to win one final championship for Doug and they did just that. It has been a dream season for the team, racing to two Divisional event wins and five National event wins with four events still to complete. They will continue eliminations at the Fall Nationals Sunday afternoon facing Christine Foster in the semifinals.
“We still have a race to win here this weekend and try to get those cowboy hats,” he continued, “It’s exciting to lock up this championship and I know we’ll be here again with Maddi. It’s time to get back to work and finish this season strong, I still have some things to check off the list this season before I’m out of the driver’s seat.”
The Gordons will now compete at their final events as National Champions and attempt to also earn the LORDS West Region Championship. After the Fall Nationals, the next stop for the team will be Las Vegas for the NHRA Nevada Nationals on Oct. 26-29, they’ll stay in Las Vegas the following weekend for the Regional event.
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