Ron Capps Carries Momentum Into NHRA Southern Nationals As Points Leader, Maddi Gordon Embraces Fresh Start

Fresh off a dominant victory at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Ron Capps heads into the next stop of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP) with the Funny Car points lead and a clear target on his back. At the same time, teammate Maddi Gordon is building confidence in Top Fuel, ready to capitalize on a rare level playing field at a brand-new national event venue.

Capps Riding Hot Streak Into Valdosta

Capps has been one of the most consistent drivers to start the 2026 season. Through four races, the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car driver has already racked up two wins, two No. 1 qualifiers, and a runner-up finish. His Charlotte victory came from the pole position and required navigating a stacked field, defeating names like Austin Prock, Alexis DeJoria, Chad Green, and Matt Hagan along the way.

That performance solidified Capps as the early-season benchmark in Funny Car.

“It’s probably pretty obvious how excited I am going right into a back-to-back race weekend straight off our win in Charlotte,” Capps said. “We’re headed to a brand-new track to all of us and racing what is the new Southern Nationals, an event with so much history. I’ve been watching races at South Georgia Motorsports Park from different series for quite a while and have been hearing about how great that place is, so it’s really cool for us as NHRA racers to finally be able to race there. I think a national event like this in that area of the country is much needed.”

If there’s one word to describe Capps’ start to 2026, it’s consistency.

He’s currently the only repeat winner among the nitro categories, and his ability to perform across varying track conditions has made him a serious title contender. Add in 79 career wins and nearly 700 starts, and it’s clear the veteran driver knows exactly how to manage momentum.

Off the track, Capps has been equally active, bringing his 75th anniversary diamond Wally trophy from Charlotte to NAPA headquarters in Atlanta, where he’s been engaging with partners and fans ahead of the Valdosta race weekend.

“We’re spending the week in between Charlotte and Valdosta in Atlanta with our NAPA and Carlyle Tools partners,” Capps said. “Maddi and I took the diamond Wally from the Charlotte 4-Wides to NAPA headquarters earlier this week… we look forward to having all of our guests from North Florida and the whole region out to the track this weekend. I think a lot of our fans are super pumped to see what this new track is going to be like as part of the NHRA circuit.”

Maddi Gordon Ready For Equal Ground

While Capps enters SGMP with momentum, Maddi Gordon sees opportunity. The Carlyle Tools Top Fuel driver is coming off a solid showing in Charlotte, where she advanced past Clay Millican and Antron Brown before falling in the quarterfinals. But it’s the unknowns of the new venue that have her energized.

“I’m really happy that after Charlotte we get to get right back at it this weekend. I’m going to take the positive energy from Charlotte and bring it into Valdosta,” Gordon said. “One of the things that I’m most excited about this weekend is the fact that no one has any data there… this weekend, we’re all going in with the same amount of data, and that’s zero, so the fact that we’re all going to be figuring this track out together evens the playing field a bit.”

Like Capps, Gordon has also been active off the track, spending time at NAPA headquarters and connecting with partners ahead of the race.

Her week in Atlanta includes a moment that reaches beyond drag racing.

“And tonight, I get to throw out the first pitch at the Braves game! I know my 10-year-old self would be freaking out right now if she knew that one day I’d have the opportunity to do that,” Gordon said. “We bought a baseball, and I’ve been practicing. I hope I can make my former varsity softball coach back home proud!”

 Capps is looking to extend his early dominance and maintain the points lead. Gordon is focused on turning potential into results. And both drivers will have another shot at bonus points in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.