ROCKINGHAM — Maddi Gordon will be looking to move up in the standings this weekend during the NHRA Nationals at the Rock.
The National Hot Rod Association will be holding its first-ever points event Friday through Sunday at Rockingham Dragway, featuring races in the Top Fuel, Pro Stock, Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes.
Gordon, 22, currently sits at the No. 8 spot in the Top Fuel class following the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park this past weekend, according to the unofficial results.
Points leader Shawn Langdon made it into the record books with the fastest pass in NHRA history with a 3.663 run at 346.95 mph in Michigan against teammate Doug Kalitta, who sits at the No. 2 spot.
Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is third in the Top Fuel class.
Rounding out the top 10 in the class are: Antron Brown (4); Leah Pruett (5); Josh Hart (6); Billy Torrence (7); Justin Ashley (9); and Will Smith (10).
Three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps recalls making it to the finals of the 1998 NHRA Winston Invitational at Rockingham Dragway.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Gordon’s teammate and team owner, Ron Capps, is No. 4 in the Funny Car class. He is a three-time champ in that class.
Leading is four-time Funny Car champ Matt Hagen, followed by Jordan Vandergriff — who won at Michigan — and Jack Beckman.
Six-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson is at No. 3, behind points leader Matt Hartford and Greg Stanfield. Michigan class winner Troy Coughlin Jr. is at No. 5, and reigning champ Dallas Glenn is at the fourth spot.
Both Anderson and Capps competed at Rockingham during the late ‘90s in the NHRA Winston Invitational, which ran from 1989-1998.
Anderson was at the Rock last November for the event announcement, and Capps and Gordon were there in March to promote the race weekend.
Greg Anderson recalls being at Rockingham in the '90s before becoming a driver.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
In the Pro Stock Motorcycle Class, Michigan winner John Hall sits at No. 2 behind reigning champ Richard Gadson. Six-time champ Matt Smith and his wife, Angine Smith, are in third and fourth place, respectively.
Thirty-one drivers are scheduled to be at NitroFest in downtown Rockingham on Thursday for a meet-and-greet and to sign autographs. Tickets for NHRA Nationals at the Rock will also be available.
Gates at the track are scheduled to open for spectators at 10 a.m. Friday for qualifying. The Richmond Senior High School Band will be performing throughout the day.
On Saturday, gates open at 9 a.m. with several autograph sessions scheduled for the first hour , and at 8 a.m. Sunday. Local band Good Company is scheduled to perform Friday night, starting at 8 p.m..
