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By NAPA
Carlyle Tools, the private label hand tool brand of longtime Ron Capps Motorsports (RCM) partner
link hidden, please login to view, will back NHRA drag racer Maddi Gordon as she embarks on her rookie season competing in the sport’s professional Top Fuel ranks, it was announced today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. In April, fourth-year NHRA team owner/driver Ron Capps confirmed that he would expand his single-car operation into a two-car team in 2026 and had selected Gordon as the driver of his organization’s first Top Fuel entry. Capps, a three-time Funny Car world champion and 31-year veteran of the sport, has enjoyed a nearly 19-year partnership with NAPA Auto Parts. On Tuesday at the SEMA show, Gordon revealed the black-and-venom-green Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster that she will pilot at all 20 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events in 2026, starting with the series’ season-opener in March.
“This is definitely a pinch-me moment,” said Gordon, a third generation drag racer who grew up traveling the NHRA tour with her family’s Top Alcohol Funny Car operation and became the 100th woman in NHRA history to win a national event when she scored her first victory aboard the family entry. “I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that I get to drive a dragster for Ron next year, and to do that with such an innovative and dynamic brand like Carlyle Tools is a dream. My family and I started working with Carlyle earlier this season on our Alcohol car when Ron helped to set us up with a product agreement. It was so cool to be able to represent them on a smaller scale this year, but the fact that it has evolved beyond that, and I’ll get to be ‘the Carlyle driver’ competing in NHRA’s pro ranks, is not something I could have ever imagined.”
The partnership with Gordon reflects the recent Carlyle Tools brand transformation, which is geared toward reaching students and young technicians. At just 21 years old, Gordon is adept at both driving and wrenching on her family’s race car, perfectly embodying the demographic Carlyle Tools is hoping to attract.
“Maddi doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk,” said Capps. “When we announced that Maddi would be joining RCM earlier this season, I had said that we were going about this a bit backwards, because normally you start out by securing funding and then you add the driver, but for me it was important to pay it forward and give an up-and-comer like Maddi, who both drives and works as a crew member, ‘the shot’ that Snake (Don Prudhomme, Capps’ former team owner) gave me. Maddi does the clutch; she can pull a cylinder head, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty; she does it all. NAPA and Carlyle recognized those qualities in her, and I think the fans will too. She is the ultimate spokesperson for Carlyle Tools and will be an awesome ambassador for the brand.”
Katherine Wooten, NAPA Director of Partnerships Strategy and Activation shares Capps’ sentiment, also emphasizing Carlyle’s push to bring young men and women into the auto care space.
“Maddi represents everything we’re working toward with the Carlyle Tools transformation – she’s young, she’s incredibly talented, and she knows her way around an auto shop,” Wooten said. “When we reimagined the Carlyle brand, we had the next generation in mind, and we were looking for someone who could authentically connect with young technicians. Maddi doesn’t just drive the car, she understands the tools and knows what it takes to build something from the ground up. That’s exactly who we want to represent Carlyle. We’re thrilled to welcome Maddi to the NAPA family and can’t wait to watch her legacy unfold.”
After closing out the remainder of the 2025 season with her family, Gordon, who earned her Top Alcohol Funny Car license in 2023, will begin the licensing process to compete in NHRA’s premier class. She has three national event wins, four regional triumphs, and currently sits third in the points standings. Gordon will kick off her Rookie of the Year campaign aboard the Ron Capps Motorsports Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster when the 2026 season gets underway with the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 6 – 8.
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By Counterman
Carlyle Tools, the professional-grade tool line from
link hidden, please login to view, will launch the link hidden, please login to view on June 1 to support students in skilled trades. The program directly addresses the growing technician shortage in the automotive aftermarket. Each month, one student will receive $2,500 in scholarship and a professional-grade Carlyle toolbox. The Carlyle Tools MAX Impact Scholarship aims to empower the next generation with both financial aid and the professional equipment needed to succeed.
Supporting the Next Generation of Technicians
The Carlyle Tools MAX Impact Scholarship is open to students in accredited programs for automotive, diesel, collision repair, heavy equipment, marine, motorcycle and aviation technology.
Applicants must demonstrate academic performance, technical aptitude and a strong passion for their trade. The scholarship recognizes students who show promise and the potential to drive the industry forward.
“This Carlyle scholarship recognizes the new wave of technicians who are defying conventions and making smart career decisions, and our high-performance tools are built with the efficiency and durability they need to succeed,” said
link hidden, please login to view, senior vice president of product and marketing at NAPA. Industry Investment in the Skilled Trades Pipeline
Carlyle Tools built the MAX Impact Scholarship as part of its commitment to the skilled trades.
“This is an investment in the future forces who’ll keep America’s engines running, systems functioning, and industries thriving,” the company stated.
The monthly scholarship reflects Carlyle’s broader goal of reinforcing the technician pipeline through brand-backed support and education initiatives.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can apply through NAPA partner, TechForce Foundation.
Applicants must complete an online form, submit academic transcripts, write a personal statement, and include a recommendation from an instructor or industry professional.
Carlyle is BUILT DIFFERENT
Carlyle, a NAPA-exclusive tool line, recently underwent a full brand transformation.
Built by and for technicians, Carlyle Tools offers performance-grade products engineered for power, precision and durability. The Carlyle Tools MAX Impact Scholarship expands that mission by helping future techs access the tools and support they need to thrive.
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By Counterman
Solera |
link hidden, please login to view, an automotive diagnostics and repair solutions provider, announced a new partnership with link hidden, please login to view. The relationship allows Direct-Hit®, a trusted repair information source, to integrate with XTool’s automotive diagnostic scan tools. This collaboration creates a streamlined diagnostic and repair experience for professional technicians.
Starting mid-Q2, technicians using XTool’s Prodigy (13.3-inch) and Compass scan tools will be connected seamlessly to Direct-Hit’s repair database. These tools give technicians access to OE manuals, service data and multiple cross-reference wiring diagrams.
Technicians can also use Hotline Archives and millions of Confirmed Fixes for real-world repair solutions.
Identifix’s ASE-certified, technician-submitted shortcuts help others find fixes quickly and return vehicles to the road safely, the company said.
Industry Leaders Highlight Integration Benefits
Haresh Gobin, vice president of product and marketing at XTool U.S., called the offering a game-changer for the industry:
“As we assessed the landscape of the automotive repair informatics industry. Our vision was to not only just add another run of the mill- feature for the sake of it, our wish was to integrate the best possible solution into our scan tool platform to enable our scan tool users to become faster with pinpoint quality accuracy in their day-to-day diagnostic methodologies and repairs – enabling their shops to maximize revenue and profit. There was undeniably only one option in the industry that would make this a reality, Identifix’s Direct-Hit product. We are extremely delighted that Identifix saw the potential in our product and was open to this collaboration.”
Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tools Enhance Technician Efficiency
This move brings Identifix closer to technicians by integrating at the vehicle, during the diagnostic stage.
Direct-Hit integration removes the need to switch devices or platforms, streamlining the repair process.
Technicians now diagnose problems faster, reduce vehicle downtime, and increase service bay efficiency. These improvements give auto shops a clearer path to higher productivity and profitability.
Meredith Zimmerman, SVP of Repair Solutions at Solera, emphasized the broader impact on the industry:
“This offering is a major step forward in how diagnostic and repair intelligence is delivered. With Direct-Hit accessible through the XTool platform, we’ve removed barriers and empowered technicians with instant, in-bay access to the insights they rely on every day. It’s a smart, fast path to accurate repairs and a more productive shop floor.”
A Shared Commitment to Innovation
This relationship shows both companies’ shared commitment to helping professionals with integrated diagnostics and repair technology.
They aim to simplify workflows and boost technician efficiency with comprehensive, real-time tools. They also continue to create technology that increases shop efficiency and profitability.
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