Local drag racer claims regional title in debut season
Maddi Gordon, second from the right, with her father Doug, grandmother Cheryl, mother Christina, grandfather Mike, and sister Macie (L-R).
Maddi Gordon wins NHRA West Region Championship
– Maddi Gordon, a 20-year-old Paso Robles drag racer, placed first in the 2024 Top Alcohol Funny Car West Region Championship in early November. This was Gordon’s rookie season; she made her National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) debut in February 2024 with her Beta Motorcycles Morro Bay Cabinets Top Alcohol Funny Car.
“I have been involved in drag racing my whole life,” said Gordon. “I went to my first drag race at eight days old and have never looked back. I love everything about drag racing.”
Gordon has completed her debut racing season.
To win the regional championships, Gordon needed the most points among all Top Alcohol Funny Cars in the western region. She also placed second in the world rankings after competing in 15 events nationwide.
The Gordon family has been involved in drag racing since 1986. Gordon’s pit crew includes her grandparents Cheryl and Mike, parents Christina and Doug, and sister Macie. Collectively, the family has won more than 20 national events. Her father, Doug, won the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car world championship three times.
“I would like the community to know how big of a team sport this is and how truly blessed I am to do it with my family. To be able to compete at the level we do as a family is truly unheard of and I’m just so blessed to be a part of it,” said Gordon, a Templeton High School graduate who works at the family business, Morro Bay Cabinets.
Gordon racing during a competition; she competed in 15 events this season.
This season, Gordon became the 100th woman to win at the Pacific Raceways. She also competed in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Charlotte 4-Wide events, as well as winning in Indianapolis and Kansas City.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to drive my dream race car, our family’s top alcohol funny car,” Gordon said. “Thank you a million times to my family and all our amazing sponsors for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful.”
