Alcohol Funny Car contender Doug Gordon and the Beta Motorcycles team paid off in a major way by securing their first NHRA Lucas Oil world title .

The second-generation driver from Paso Robles , California , came into the season being tested like never before . His 2019 season ended in Las Vegas with a crash during qualifying , a rare blemish on an impeccable driving record over the last quarter-century . He began the new season with the first chassis built out of the Jonnie Lindberg Motorsports shop and new colors with his sponsor ’ s red livery replacing the familiar green MB Cabinets entries . Though dominant on his way to the final round at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals , he incurred another instance of bad luck with an untimely parts failure in second gear opposite surprise winner Aryan Rochon in

the final round , extending his frustrating string of losses in final-round appearance to 10 since his last win at the Texas Motorplex in 2017 .

Undeterred , Gordon went on a tear at regional events across the country with victories in Gainesville , Denver , Sonoma , and Topeka . He made good on his next opportunity at a national event win , bringing home the Wally at the prestigious U . S . Nationals . Perhaps more importantly , he capitalized on the opportunity to tilt the championship in his favor after reigning champion Sean Bellemeur was upset in the opening round .

“ I heard him go out from a couple cars behind him in the staging lanes ,” Gordon recalls . “ My leg was actually shaking in the car , there was such nerves . It was like , ‘ This is our chance .’ I wasn ’ t thinking about winning Indy ; I was thinking we can gain points . Actually going on to win Indy

was a dream come true .”

Bellemeur stayed alive with a head-to-head victory over Gordon at the delayed Gatornationals . Three weeks later , they met again in the Dallas final in what Gordon described as his biggest race of the year in a 5.48 to 5.51 victory . He clinched the title in Houston the following weekend when Bellemeur was unable to fire in the semifinal round .

It was a remarkable feat for the family-run team of Gordon , parents Mike and Cheryl , wife Christina , daughters Madison and Macie , crewman Rick Wilkinson , and sponsors Beta Motorcycles , Lucas Oil , NGK Spark Plugs , and AJPE .

“ It was just a dream season ,” says Gordon . “ I still have a hard time letting it sink in sometimes , but I ’ m really , really happy the team accomplished it . It may not happen again , so we ’ re going to relish it .” – BRAD LITTLEFIELD DI

PHOTO : JOE MCHUGH