The NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip has always been a cornerstone of drag racing history, but this year’s event carries a level of significance that even the sport’s most seasoned veterans can appreciate. As the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2026, this weekend’s race at Pomona, the birthplace of NHRA drag racing, perfectly aligns with another milestone: the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history.
That convergence of history, performance, and legacy isn’t lost on competitors like Ron Capps.
“We’ve talked about celebrating 75 years of NHRA in 2026 for quite some time now, and I can’t think of a track with more legacy or that better signifies the history of our sport than Pomona, the birthplace of NHRA Drag Racing. And, how cool that it lines up where this weekend is the 1,000th Funny Car race. I’ve been lucky enough to not only be a part of some of the big ones, but have also had a front row seat to some incredible matchups over the years with some of the biggest names, including my former boss, Don ‘the Snake’ Prudhomme. The Winternationals is one of the most historic events, so you really couldn’t have drawn it up better.”
Coming into Pomona, the NAPA team has built serious momentum early in the season. A No. 1 qualifying position at the season-opening Gatornationals set the tone, followed by a victory in Phoenix that reinforced their competitiveness in a stacked Funny Car field.
“We’ve had a great start to the season with our NAPA Auto Care team. Obviously, qualifying No. 1 at the Gatornationals to kick things off and then winning the second race in Phoenix just shows how much work our NAPA Auto Care team put in throughout the off-season. Wins like we had in Phoenix are a result of the hard work that went on in the shop in Brownsburg over the winter. So, just feeling really good about everything right now. We have a great race car, and we’re very excited about Pomona. The weather looks very fast, and that track has held a lot of records throughout the years. For all of our partners, NAPA Auto Parts, Carlyle Tools, Monster Energy, and all our NAPA guests, looking forward to this weekend.”
For Maddi Gordon, the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona has a deep-rooted family history. With early-season momentum, it creates a compelling storyline heading into one of drag racing’s most iconic events.
“I’m really excited to get back to racing this weekend. That week and a half off was nice, but boy, it feels like a year since I’ve hit the gas, so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there. Pomona is extremely special to my family. My sister and I pretty much grew up at that track. We’ve been going there twice a year since we were born and just have a ton of great memories. I raced Alcohol Funny Car there, Jr. Dragsters; got to watch my sister race Top Dragster and Super Comp there a couple of weeks ago, and she did an awesome job. We’ve got a lot of friends and family coming in to watch. It’s also really special to have Shirley Shahan spending time with us this weekend. What she accomplished for women in our sport is incredible, and it means a lot to be able to share this moment with her, so there should be good vibes all around in Pomona.”
Fresh off a strong showing in Phoenix, Gordon and the Carlyle Tools team continue to build chemistry and refine their approach. Consistency in qualifying and participation in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge has become an early indicator that the program is trending in the right direction.
“I’m so proud of our Carlyle Tools boys; there’s no other team I’d want to drive for. I tell them all the time; there’s no group of guys I’d rather go into battle with on a Sunday than them. I feel like we have really good mojo coming out of Phoenix. We’re in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge once again, and that gives us a lot of confidence that we’ve qualified for both so far this year. (Crew chiefs) Rob (Flynn) and Troy (Fasching) were extremely happy after Phoenix. They feel like they learned a lot and are more confident in the race car, so that’s huge. We’re making progress; I’m learning every single weekend as a driver, and I know Rob and Troy and all the guys are learning more and more with each run down the track as well. Overall, just really happy with how the year has gone so far and looking forward to another good one this weekend in Pomona.”
At a track where so many memories have already been made, the opportunity to add another meaningful chapter is right in front of both Capps and Gordon.
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