BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 10, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff may be an NHRA Funny Car rookie but the list of opportunities for success he and his John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team have lined up in front of them during the June 12-14 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway is something any veteran racer would envy.
Rain washed out last week’s Funny Car final at New England Dragway so Vandergriff will face teammate Jack Beckman during qualifying Friday evening in Thunder Valley. The Atlanta area resident will be going for his second event win of the season, after earning his first Diamond Wally in May at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta. A win by Vandegriff in the final would move him to second place in the point standings.
He’ll then compete for his second Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title during Saturday’s qualifying sessions, after having earned his first during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.
Sunday’s sole focus will be adding the Thunder Valley Nationals trophy to his growing collection.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after eight of 20 races are: 1. Ron Capps, 617; 2. J.R. Todd, 602; 3. Jordan Vandergriff, 588; 4. Matt Hagan, 546; 5. Chad Green, 545; 6. Jack Beckman, 511; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 487; 8. Spencer Hyde, 401; 9. Austin Prock, 358; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 296.
Quotes
How are you dealing with, and preparing for, having to wait five days to run the final round of the New England Nationals during Friday qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals?
“I’m trying to keep my mind in race day mode this whole week. We were left with a cliffhanger at the end of Sunday. I thought about it Sunday night and I was like, well, I’m going to have to hit the ground running on Friday and be ready to race. So, I’m trying to really keep my mind in race mode. I haven’t really allowed myself to think that Epping is over so I’m just staying ready for Friday night that way.
Bristol’s another quote unquote new track for you and it’s also going to be a bit of a new track for everybody with the repaving. What have you heard about what the track used to be like and what it’s looking to be with the new resurface?
“I’ve always thought Bristol is a beautiful facility and I’ve always wanted to race in Thunder Valley in the trees. It’s one of the places on the schedule you have to experience. I’ve heard the old racing surface was a little bumpy here and there but I saw some pictures of the repave and wow, it looks beautiful. It levels the playing field for everybody. It’s a new track for me but also new surface for everyone in the series. And, based on our last two efforts on new racetracks for me, in Georgia (win) and Maryland (semifinals), we have had decent success. If we can hit the ground running in Q1 at Bristol and lay down a solid lap, I think, I think we’ll be set up for the weekend.”
You have been to Bristol as part of the TV team so is there anything that sticks out in your mind, any special memories that happened there?
“I think it was when I first laid eyes on the track. I’d always heard about it, and I’d always wanted to race there. I walked over the hill and, as I saw the racetrack, I thought how beautiful it was with all the trees and the stadium seating and the tower and Bristol Motor Speedway off to the left. It encapsulates drag racing and there’s so much history there. I was at dinner last night with my uncle (former NHRA driver and team owner Bob Vandergriff, Jr.) and Bristol is where he lost that Top Fuel Dragster/Funny Car showdown against John Force in 2009. There’s a lot of a lot of family history there and a lot of Force history there, as well.”
How are you handling the travel and staying in race mode in the third week of this three-race swing?
“I think I think I’m handling it great. After Maryland, Mike Neff (crew chief for John Force Racing teammate Alexis DeJoria) told me that I was going to find a groove and I think I picked that groove. That’s why I was upset that Epping was cut short because I was ready to go to that final. Check. But I need this for my young career. I needed the back to back weeks, rinse and repeat, and learn from them. I think I’m going to come out of this three-race swing a lot stronger as a driver.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will conduct a media availability in the Bristol Dragway Media Center on Fri., June 12, at 3 p.m. ET. He will be signing autographs Sat., June 13, from 5-6 p.m. in the Bristol Dragway pavilion near the tunnel.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 8 | Beat Jack Beckman, John Smith; lost to Chad Green | 2-1 | 4 |
| Phoenix | 5 | Beat Alexis DeJoria, lost to Matt Hagan | 3-2 | 7 |
| Pomona1 | 3 | Beat Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps | 5-3 | 5 |
| Charlotte | 2 | Won 1st quad; lost in 2nd quad | 6-4 | 5 |
| Valdosta | 3 | Beat Jeff Arend, Spencer Hyde, Hunter Green, Ron Capps | 10-4 | 4 |
| Chicago | 10 | Lost to Chad Green | 10-5 | 5 |
| Maryland | 4 | Beat Dave Richards, Chad Green; lost to Jack Beckman | 12-6 | 5 |
| Epping | 2 | Beat Jeff Arend, Chad Green, J.R. Todd; final against Beckman in Bristol | TBD | TBD |
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