Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK
Event 6 of 20
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 15 – 17, 2026
MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Last Event (Valdosta):
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Will Smith in E1; defeated by Justin Ashley in E2)
Noteworthy:
Fan Events:
Friday, 12:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
Quotable:
“I’m always really excited to get back to the racetrack. It was nice to have that weekend off and spend time with my family. We celebrated my 22nd birthday at the lake, and it was a blast, but I’m always eager to get back to the track; that’s where my heart is. I’m just so proud of our Carlyle Tools team and what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. Everyone on the team – (crew chiefs) Rob (Flynn), Troy (Fasching), Chuck (Grospitch), everyone understands how much I really want to learn about these cars. I don’t want to just be a driver, I want to be a part of the team, and they always include me so I can learn all aspects. Everything from the tuning combination, the clutch, RPM, blowers, whatever it might be, they always take the time to explain it to me. And the more and more I learn about these cars, the more I appreciate just how much the team has accomplished already. It truly is spectacular. What people don’t get to see behind the scenes is how many things have to go absolutely perfect to get a Top Fuel car up and down that racetrack. So, the fact that we’ve been able to do that, and go 340 mph two times in a row, is just pretty amazing. I’m just along for the ride, enjoying the heck out of it.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the Chicago fans. We have amazing diehard fans in the NHRA and I love it, because I’m a diehard drag racing fan myself, so I’m excited to sign autographs, meet fans at the ropes and hopefully put on a good show for them. It’s so cool in our sport how fans can come right up to the pits and see what the teams are doing, and it’s especially cool that they get to see our Carlyle Tools in action; they get to see the tools that make our dragster go down the track. This is quite the dream I get to live, and that’s all thanks to Carlyle Tools, NAPA Auto Parts, and Monster Energy for supporting us. We’d love nothing more than to have another good outing this weekend, and hopefully keep that momentum rolling heading into these next five straight weeks of racing.”
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Event 6 of 20
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 15 – 17, 2026
MADDI GORDON
Driver of the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Last Event (Valdosta):
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Will Smith in E1; defeated by Justin Ashley in E2)
Noteworthy:
- Recently became the second woman and fourth Top Fuel driver to eclipse the 340 mph barrier during the Valdosta, Ga. event
- Celebrated her 22nd birthday over the off weekend
Fan Events:
Friday, 12:00 p.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Ron Capps Motorsports driver autograph session, Carlyle Tools midway display
Quotable:
“I’m always really excited to get back to the racetrack. It was nice to have that weekend off and spend time with my family. We celebrated my 22nd birthday at the lake, and it was a blast, but I’m always eager to get back to the track; that’s where my heart is. I’m just so proud of our Carlyle Tools team and what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. Everyone on the team – (crew chiefs) Rob (Flynn), Troy (Fasching), Chuck (Grospitch), everyone understands how much I really want to learn about these cars. I don’t want to just be a driver, I want to be a part of the team, and they always include me so I can learn all aspects. Everything from the tuning combination, the clutch, RPM, blowers, whatever it might be, they always take the time to explain it to me. And the more and more I learn about these cars, the more I appreciate just how much the team has accomplished already. It truly is spectacular. What people don’t get to see behind the scenes is how many things have to go absolutely perfect to get a Top Fuel car up and down that racetrack. So, the fact that we’ve been able to do that, and go 340 mph two times in a row, is just pretty amazing. I’m just along for the ride, enjoying the heck out of it.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the Chicago fans. We have amazing diehard fans in the NHRA and I love it, because I’m a diehard drag racing fan myself, so I’m excited to sign autographs, meet fans at the ropes and hopefully put on a good show for them. It’s so cool in our sport how fans can come right up to the pits and see what the teams are doing, and it’s especially cool that they get to see our Carlyle Tools in action; they get to see the tools that make our dragster go down the track. This is quite the dream I get to live, and that’s all thanks to Carlyle Tools, NAPA Auto Parts, and Monster Energy for supporting us. We’d love nothing more than to have another good outing this weekend, and hopefully keep that momentum rolling heading into these next five straight weeks of racing.”
Continue reading...
