One of the first lessons I learned as a journalist was simple: Don’t ask a question if you’re not ready for the answer.
During a press conference at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, a reporter asked Don “The Snake” Prudhomme whether he saw qualities in Maddi Gordon that reminded him of mentoring Ron Capps in his early days. Prudhomme, true to form, gave the kind of blunt response that has defined him for decades.
“I don’t know. Would I have picked a little girl to drive my race car? I don’t think so. I mean, that’s just my opinion. I’m not from that school…,” Prudhomme said before explaining how the sport and its opportunities have changed since his heyday.
For anyone who has covered Prudhomme, the answer was not surprising. He has never been one to filter his words for corporate comfort. But context matters.
There was no uncomfortable feeling in the media center as alleged, except maybe for those who didn’t know the true history of the sport. And because of that, didn’t understand the context from which Prudhomme spoke.
Prudhomme’s perspective reflects the era in which he built his reputation. In the 1960s and ’70s, putting an unproven woman in a nitro car could have ostracized him right out of the sport he’d invested his heart and soul into. Racing was a man’s world, and women like Shirley Muldowney had to fight for every ounce of respect. Muldowney endured hostility from rivals, fans, and even opposing crew members, but her success as a four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion eventually broke barriers that once seemed immovable.
Prudhomme was never among her harshest critics. He credited Muldowney as “one tough broad” and respected her talent, even if he would not have hired her to drive his car back then. That context matters when judging his remarks today.
THE COMMENTARY THAT SPARKED THE REBUTTAL
Maddi Gordon wasn’t at the track this weekend. She wasn’t in the pit area, suiting up, or standing behind the ropes. She was somewhere off the grid, in Cabo, unbothered while her name came up in one of the most quietly defining press conference moments of the weekend.
Drag racing has since become one of the most organically diverse motorsports. Women such as Angelle Sampey, Erica Enders, Brittany Force, and now Gordon have proven themselves at the highest level. Gordon’s back-to-back Northwest Nationals wins and her 2024 milestone as the 100th woman to win an NHRA national event show she has earned a chance at her seat.
Where Prudhomme missed the mark was in failing to acknowledge those accomplishments. His honesty reflected the reality of his era, but the answer came across as dismissive of a driver who has already proven herself through hard work and performance.
None of this suggests Prudhomme opposes Gordon’s opportunity. He has often described Capps as the son he never had, and his respect for Capps’ judgment is clear. If Capps believes Gordon is the right driver for his Top Fuel team, Prudhomme supports that decision.
But blunt honesty can still fall flat. Prudhomme gave the response expected from a legend of his generation, yet the moment showed how far the sport has evolved. The opportunities that once seemed impossible now exist, and Gordon is proof of why that evolution and context matter.
