SPEED with Harvick and Buxton
SPEED with Harvick and Buxton

Maddi Gordon: Racing at 340 mph

October 1, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Maddi Gordon, 22 years old and in her rookie season driving a 11,000-horsepower top-fuel dragster for Ron Capps Motorsports, has already won a race and is chasing an NHRA championship. But when she describes what it feels like to drive at 340 mph, she reaches for an analogy that has nothing to do with race cars: “I feel like I’m driving a 340-mile-per-hour forklift.” The rear wheels steer the car’s direction, the chassis is constantly “black-tracking” or sashaying side to side, and the driver spends the whole four-second run sawing at the wheel just to keep the 31-foot-long machine pointed straight. That is the sensory reality of the fastest form of motorsport on earth.

The mechanics of a four-second run

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What you'll learn

  • 1 SPEED with Harvick and Buxton — Maddi Gordon: Racing at 340 mph
  • 2 (01:40) **Welcome and Introduction** - Kevin Harvick and Will Buxton introduce Maddi Gordon, NHRA Top Fuel rookie, to the show.
  • 3 (03:02) **The Adrenaline Junkie Origin Story** - Maddi describes how her lifelong need for speed developed from childhood.
  • 4 (04:48) **Biggest Adjustment to Top Fuel** - Maddi identifies the hardest part of reaching the sport's highest level.
  • 5 (06:33) **First-Round Upset Against Sean Langdon** - Maddi recounts her debut race at Gainesville where she beat a top contender.
  • 6 (08:42) **Team Motivator and Energy Source** - Maddi explains her role as the team's positive force and how she maintains it.
  • 7 (10:19) **The Two Maddis: On-Track vs. Off-Track** - She describes the mental switch that happens when she gets in the car.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Maddi Gordon joins Kevin Harvick and Will Buxton to discuss her rookie season in drag racing and her rapid rise behind the wheel. Gordon opens up about driving for Ron Capps, finding early success, and what she learned from beating NASCAR legend Tony Stewart. She details the legacy of women in drag racing and her experience growing up in a three-generation drag racing family. Gordon also explains how her experience as a technician has made her a better driver, what it really feels like to reach 340+ MPH, and what she hopes to accomplish as she continues her rookie season. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:41 - Rookie NHRA Season 01:42 - Desire for Speed 03:13 - Biggest Adjustment as a Rookie 05:23 - Surprised by Early Success? 07:33 - Experience Driving for Ron Capps 08:54 - Are You a Different Maddi in the Car? 11:14 - Beating Tony Stewart 12:38 - Legacy of Women in Drag Racing 14:24 - Growing Up in a 3-Generation Drag Racing Family 17:13 - How Being a Technician Makes Her a Better Driver 18:42 - What Does 340+ MPH Actually Feel Like? 22:26 - Goals for the Rest of the Season

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