Local drag racer Maddi Gordon wins season opener at Phoenix event
Maddi Gordon.
Gordon overcomes early tire shake to secure first-place finish
– Paso Robles drag racer Maddi Gordon secured a win at the NHRA Division 7/West Regional event at Firebird Motorsports Park, marking a strong start to her 2025 season. Driving her new Top Alcohol Funny Car chassis, Gordon qualified No. 2 with a 5.471-second pass at 260.56 mph.
In the first round, Gordon faced Steve Gasparrelli, who had purchased the Gordon family’s 2024 chassis during the off-season. Both cars experienced tire shake early in the run, but Gordon recovered to post a 6.174-second pass at 253.90 mph, advancing to the semifinals.
Gordon then competed against Steven Macklyn in a close race, running a 5.511 at 267.22 mph to beat Macklyn’s 5.534 at 258.42. In the final round, she faced Brian Hough, running a 5.473 at 266.85 mph to claim victory over Hough’s 5.511 at 267.64 mph.
“This win means the world to us,” Gordon said. “It took lots of blood, sweat, and some frustrations, but to start off the season, first race out with a win in our brand-new car is a huge feat for our team.”
The Gordon family spent the off-season refining their new chassis and conducted test runs in Phoenix the weekend before the event. Their preparations led to an early-season victory.
Gordon’s next race in the Beta Motorcycles Morro Bay Cabinets Top Alcohol Funny Car is the NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California, from March 28-30.
Based in Paso Robles, California, the team wrote in a press release that it views this event as a homecoming race and aims to continue its strong performance on the national circuit.
