BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 23, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team seem to have a thing about the four new events added to the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule and the fourth of those, the Sept. 25-27 inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway, is positioned squarely in their sites.
The Atlanta-area resident earned his first career event win May 3 in the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in just his fifth Funny Car start. Four weeks later at Maryland International Speedway, Vandergriff made it to the semifinals in the NHRA Potomac Nationals before bowing out to John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman. Then, Sept. 21 at the rain-delayed NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., the Cornwell Tools team overcame a 16th-place qualifying spot to earn their second win at a new venue and third overall this season.
The Rock is the second of six races of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship. Vandergriff is second in the point standings, just 23 out of the first place. He has two wins and a semifinal finish at the three new events already completed. Now only The Rock is left to be conquered.
The Cornwell Tools team’s win in the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park made Vandergriff the ninth John Force Racing driver to win a Countdown to the Championship race and, in doing so, earned the organization’s 45th Countdown event. He joins John Force (7 Countdown wins), Robert Hight (16), Brittany Force (7), Austin Prock (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2), Jack Beckman (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 15 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,208; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,185; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,154; 4. Ron Capps, 2,145; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,139; 6. Austin Prock, 2,099; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,088; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,069; 9. Chad Green, 2,055; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,033.
Quotes
What’s it going to be like racing at Rockingham for the first time?
“I know really nothing about the Rockingham track other than that it’s got a sick name and it seems like a cool place to race. I know it’s another new race for us on the schedule this year and a new market for us. What better way to start the Countdown than two new racetracks for us? It’s gonna even the playing field even more for everybody and I look forward to seeing what Rockingham is all about.”
Which driver, past or present, would you like to line up against at least once?
“My No. 1 answer is John Force but the less obvious answer, but not by much, is The Snake. Don Prudhomme. He was the coolest and still is. I try to be cool but I’ll never be as cool as Snake.”
How are you and the Cornwell Tools team feeling going into Rockingham with a full head of steam after the Michigan win?
“The win at Michigan, especially coming from the No. 16 spot, means that all the momentum is on our side heading into Rockingham. We’re second in points, just a round back of the leader which is a great place to be going to a new track because we’ve had a good record at these new tracks so far this year.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs at the following times and locations: Thurs., Sept. 24, from 6:30-7:15 p.m. at Harrington Square in downtown Rockingham, N.C.; and Sat., Sept. 26, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Quality Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 25 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on Sun., Sept. 27, includes qualifying on FS1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET before eliminations action at from 3 – 6 p.m.
2026 Results
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The Atlanta-area resident earned his first career event win May 3 in the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in just his fifth Funny Car start. Four weeks later at Maryland International Speedway, Vandergriff made it to the semifinals in the NHRA Potomac Nationals before bowing out to John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman. Then, Sept. 21 at the rain-delayed NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., the Cornwell Tools team overcame a 16th-place qualifying spot to earn their second win at a new venue and third overall this season.
The Rock is the second of six races of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship. Vandergriff is second in the point standings, just 23 out of the first place. He has two wins and a semifinal finish at the three new events already completed. Now only The Rock is left to be conquered.
The Cornwell Tools team’s win in the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park made Vandergriff the ninth John Force Racing driver to win a Countdown to the Championship race and, in doing so, earned the organization’s 45th Countdown event. He joins John Force (7 Countdown wins), Robert Hight (16), Brittany Force (7), Austin Prock (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2), Jack Beckman (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 15 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,208; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,185; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,154; 4. Ron Capps, 2,145; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,139; 6. Austin Prock, 2,099; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,088; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,069; 9. Chad Green, 2,055; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,033.
Quotes
What’s it going to be like racing at Rockingham for the first time?
“I know really nothing about the Rockingham track other than that it’s got a sick name and it seems like a cool place to race. I know it’s another new race for us on the schedule this year and a new market for us. What better way to start the Countdown than two new racetracks for us? It’s gonna even the playing field even more for everybody and I look forward to seeing what Rockingham is all about.”
Which driver, past or present, would you like to line up against at least once?
“My No. 1 answer is John Force but the less obvious answer, but not by much, is The Snake. Don Prudhomme. He was the coolest and still is. I try to be cool but I’ll never be as cool as Snake.”
How are you and the Cornwell Tools team feeling going into Rockingham with a full head of steam after the Michigan win?
“The win at Michigan, especially coming from the No. 16 spot, means that all the momentum is on our side heading into Rockingham. We’re second in points, just a round back of the leader which is a great place to be going to a new track because we’ve had a good record at these new tracks so far this year.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs at the following times and locations: Thurs., Sept. 24, from 6:30-7:15 p.m. at Harrington Square in downtown Rockingham, N.C.; and Sat., Sept. 26, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Quality Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 25 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on Sun., Sept. 27, includes qualifying on FS1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET before eliminations action at from 3 – 6 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 |
| Martin | 16 | Beat Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson, J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan | 29-12 | 2 |
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