BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff achieved many goals and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in his first full NHRA regular season but he fully understands how much more is out there as he and the John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team prepare for the first round of the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship at the inaugural Sept. 18-20 NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
Vandergriff and the Chris Cunningham/Jason Bunker-led Cornwell Tools team enter the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship in the fourth position, just one point behind John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in third, 18 behind Ron Capps in second and 35 behind point leader Matt Hagan. During the 14-race regular season, the Cornwell Tools team earned two wins (South Georgia, Sonoma), 25 elimination rounds and three No. 1 Qualifier positions (Epping, Sonoma, Brainerd).
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,109; 2. Ron Capps, 2,092; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,075; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,074; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,060; 6. Austin Prock, 2,055; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,033; 8. Chad Green, 2,023; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,013; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,000.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on U.S. 131 Motorsports Park hosting its inaugural NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series event as the first round of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship?
“I love the fact that we’re going to a track hosting its first national event. Not only are we going to a new market where we’ll be meeting new fans, but an inaugural event levels the playing field. Let’s go somewhere new. Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker and my Cornwell Quality Tools boys have done well at new facilities so far this year so, hopefully, we can keep that going in Martin, Michigan.”
What are your thoughts on the first three races of the Countdown, half the of the overall six races, scheduled over three consecutive weekends?
“I think it’s GO time! That’s what we had the whole regular season for: to perform to the best of our abilities, build consistency, and figure things out when they don’t go our way. The Countdown is here so it’s time to get to it, see what we’ve learn during the regular season and continue to do what we’ve been doing all year. We’ve been consistent, had a strong success rate and accrued a lot of points so, uh, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go. I feel like the whole regular season, I was happy and having fun. Now I’m feeling the switch start to flip a little bit. The pressure of that first round at Indy against J.R. Todd, realizing what was at stake and the fun and games are over. It’s serious business.”
What’s your perspective on your first full regular season of NHRA competition as you face the start of the Countdown?
“It’s obviously disappointing that we couldn’t get the regular season championship wrapped up. We went into Monday at the U.S. Nationals confident but we ended up coming up a little bit short. We all wanted to win it and I was frustrated that we didn’t. My uncle Bob (Vandergriff, Jr.) put it in perspective later that night. He texted me and gave me some props and said ‘You had barely driven a Funny Car before the season started and you found yourself with a chance to win the regular season on Monday at the U.S. Nationals. You got to remember that at least you were there with a shot to do so.’ That helped put it in perspective for me. I took a step back and realized how much this Cornwell Quality Tools team has accomplished so far this year, where we stand now and that we still want more.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
2026 Results
###
Continue reading...
Vandergriff and the Chris Cunningham/Jason Bunker-led Cornwell Tools team enter the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship in the fourth position, just one point behind John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in third, 18 behind Ron Capps in second and 35 behind point leader Matt Hagan. During the 14-race regular season, the Cornwell Tools team earned two wins (South Georgia, Sonoma), 25 elimination rounds and three No. 1 Qualifier positions (Epping, Sonoma, Brainerd).
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,109; 2. Ron Capps, 2,092; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,075; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,074; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,060; 6. Austin Prock, 2,055; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,033; 8. Chad Green, 2,023; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,013; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,000.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on U.S. 131 Motorsports Park hosting its inaugural NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series event as the first round of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship?
“I love the fact that we’re going to a track hosting its first national event. Not only are we going to a new market where we’ll be meeting new fans, but an inaugural event levels the playing field. Let’s go somewhere new. Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker and my Cornwell Quality Tools boys have done well at new facilities so far this year so, hopefully, we can keep that going in Martin, Michigan.”
What are your thoughts on the first three races of the Countdown, half the of the overall six races, scheduled over three consecutive weekends?
“I think it’s GO time! That’s what we had the whole regular season for: to perform to the best of our abilities, build consistency, and figure things out when they don’t go our way. The Countdown is here so it’s time to get to it, see what we’ve learn during the regular season and continue to do what we’ve been doing all year. We’ve been consistent, had a strong success rate and accrued a lot of points so, uh, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go. I feel like the whole regular season, I was happy and having fun. Now I’m feeling the switch start to flip a little bit. The pressure of that first round at Indy against J.R. Todd, realizing what was at stake and the fun and games are over. It’s serious business.”
What’s your perspective on your first full regular season of NHRA competition as you face the start of the Countdown?
“It’s obviously disappointing that we couldn’t get the regular season championship wrapped up. We went into Monday at the U.S. Nationals confident but we ended up coming up a little bit short. We all wanted to win it and I was frustrated that we didn’t. My uncle Bob (Vandergriff, Jr.) put it in perspective later that night. He texted me and gave me some props and said ‘You had barely driven a Funny Car before the season started and you found yourself with a chance to win the regular season on Monday at the U.S. Nationals. You got to remember that at least you were there with a shot to do so.’ That helped put it in perspective for me. I took a step back and realized how much this Cornwell Quality Tools team has accomplished so far this year, where we stand now and that we still want more.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
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 | 1 | Beat Jeff Arend, Chad Green, J.R. Todd; lost to Jack Beckman | 15-7 | 4 |
| Bristol | 13 | Beat Alexis DeJoria; lost to Ron Capps | 16-8 | 4 |
| Norwalk | 11 | Lost to J.R. Todd | 16-9 | 5 |
| Sonoma | 1 | Beat Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan, Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson | 20-9 | 2 |
| Seattle | 9 | Beat Spencer Hyde; lost to J.R. Todd | 21-10 | 4 |
| Brainerd | 1 | Bye, beat Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd; lost to Matt Hagan | 24-11 | 2 |
| Indianapolis | 7 | Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Austin Prock | 25-12 | 4 |
###
Continue reading...
