12,000hp? 330mph? No problem… Maddi Gordon, Ron Capps on a dream NHRA debut | RACER Weekly

When three-time NHRA Funny Car champ Ron Capps wanted to add a second dragster for 2026, there was only one driver on his radar: rising star Maddi Gordon. Gordon made her NHRA Top Fuel Dragster debut at the season-opening Gatornationals, putting in a sensational run of results that saw her beating two former Top Fuel champs before meeting reigning champ Doug Kalitta in her first ever TF semi-final. Capps showed that his side of the Ron Capps Motorsports awning will be up there, too, posting the fastest Funny Car pass of the weekend. Both drivers join RACER Weekly to talk about that memorable weekend in Gainesville, taking their 330mph momentum into the rest of the season, and what it’s like to race a 12,000hp, nitro-burning dragster. 0:00 — Ron Capps on the Two-Car Team Debut at Gainesville 3:31 — Why a Top Fuel Dragster Made Sense for Capps Motorsports 6:11 — Balancing Team Owner & Driver Responsibilities 9:01 — Maddi's Licensing, Testing & Tony Stewart's Role 11:56 — Ron on the Funny Car Package & Crew Chief Guido 14:44 — Do You Ever Get Comfortable in a 12,000 HP Race Car? 18:50 — Switching to Maddie: Her Top Fuel Debut at Gainesville 24:09 — First Round, First Win: Racing Sean Langdon 30:14 — Round Two Against Tony Schumacher 35:37 — Funny Car vs. Top Fuel: The Driving Differences 38:27 — Three Generations of Racing & Family Reaction 45:53 — Rating the Weekend: Maddi's 9.25 Out of 10 Check out racer.com/bundle for an exclusive RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT:    / @racer.hq   Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG:   / racer.podcasts   Follow RACER.HQ on IG:   / racer.hq   Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network