BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 28, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team fully comprehend the championship scenario they face heading into the Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it is a simple one: win and let the cards fall where they may.
The Southern California native is second in the point standings with two races remaining in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, 98 points back of Matt Hagan. With eight elimination rounds still on the table and points-and-a-half awarded at the season finale, Vandergriff knows his focus is to win all eight and understand what his competitors do is out of his team’s control.
Vandergriff has never raced at The Strip at Las Vegas, like many of the racetracks on the schedule in his Funny Car rookie season, but it is an important facility in his drag racing career. It was there that he made his first test runs in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Fuel and Funny Car so leaving Sunday night with the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals winner’s trophy would be another important milestone in his history there.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 18 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,503; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,405; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,384; 4. Austin Prock, 2, 348; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,443; 6. Ron Capps, 2,315; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,276; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,207; 9. Chad Green, 2,155; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,149.
Quotes
What’s the plan for these final two races?
“The simple plan is to win. If we win, the points will take care of itself. We find ourselves in second place. If we do our job and win, we will hopefully be holding that big trophy at the end of the year and make it three in a row for Cornwell Quality Tools.”
How much attention do you pay to the guys that are running 3rd through fifth?
“If you asked me that question before Dallas, I would have said at least a little bit because we were all a little crunched up. Now that we have two races left, I find myself still in second place with one man to chase, Matt Hagan. I really could care less who’s in third, fourth and fifth. It’s really just us versus Hagan. That’s the way I’m approaching it. So, yeah, I’m not paying attention to anybody behind us, just the one man in front of us.”
What’s your driving past at Las Vegas?
“I’ve never raced at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but I’ve tested there a bunch so I’m familiar with the racetrack. I think it’s one of the nicest tracks we have on the schedule. I’ve been to so many ‘new’ tracks this year that I’m comfortable wherever we are. I made my first ever runs in a Top Alcohol Dragster there in 2017 and a Top Fuel Dragster in 2018. And then my first runs in a nitro Funny Car were there in 2024 in John Force’s car. So, every time I’ve made a first run in any class it’s been at Las Vegas. Hopefully, all that practice will turn into a win on Sunday.”
Do you participate in games of chance or are there any special places you like to go while you’re there?
“I do not gamble at all. I tend to think that it’s my money so I can only lose it, right? If I don’t play, I still win. The racetrack is where I like to go to the most. When I think of Las Vegas, I think of the strip and that’s The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs Sat., Oct.31, from 9:30 – 10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display and from 11 – 11:30 a.m. at the John Force Racing merchandise trailer on the midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 30, followed by the final two rounds on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 1.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1, followed by eliminations at 5 p.m. ET.
2026 Results
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The Southern California native is second in the point standings with two races remaining in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, 98 points back of Matt Hagan. With eight elimination rounds still on the table and points-and-a-half awarded at the season finale, Vandergriff knows his focus is to win all eight and understand what his competitors do is out of his team’s control.
Vandergriff has never raced at The Strip at Las Vegas, like many of the racetracks on the schedule in his Funny Car rookie season, but it is an important facility in his drag racing career. It was there that he made his first test runs in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Fuel and Funny Car so leaving Sunday night with the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals winner’s trophy would be another important milestone in his history there.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 18 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,503; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,405; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,384; 4. Austin Prock, 2, 348; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,443; 6. Ron Capps, 2,315; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,276; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,207; 9. Chad Green, 2,155; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,149.
Quotes
What’s the plan for these final two races?
“The simple plan is to win. If we win, the points will take care of itself. We find ourselves in second place. If we do our job and win, we will hopefully be holding that big trophy at the end of the year and make it three in a row for Cornwell Quality Tools.”
How much attention do you pay to the guys that are running 3rd through fifth?
“If you asked me that question before Dallas, I would have said at least a little bit because we were all a little crunched up. Now that we have two races left, I find myself still in second place with one man to chase, Matt Hagan. I really could care less who’s in third, fourth and fifth. It’s really just us versus Hagan. That’s the way I’m approaching it. So, yeah, I’m not paying attention to anybody behind us, just the one man in front of us.”
What’s your driving past at Las Vegas?
“I’ve never raced at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but I’ve tested there a bunch so I’m familiar with the racetrack. I think it’s one of the nicest tracks we have on the schedule. I’ve been to so many ‘new’ tracks this year that I’m comfortable wherever we are. I made my first ever runs in a Top Alcohol Dragster there in 2017 and a Top Fuel Dragster in 2018. And then my first runs in a nitro Funny Car were there in 2024 in John Force’s car. So, every time I’ve made a first run in any class it’s been at Las Vegas. Hopefully, all that practice will turn into a win on Sunday.”
Do you participate in games of chance or are there any special places you like to go while you’re there?
“I do not gamble at all. I tend to think that it’s my money so I can only lose it, right? If I don’t play, I still win. The racetrack is where I like to go to the most. When I think of Las Vegas, I think of the strip and that’s The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will be signing autographs Sat., Oct.31, from 9:30 – 10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display and from 11 – 11:30 a.m. at the John Force Racing merchandise trailer on the midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 30, followed by the final two rounds on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 1.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1, followed by eliminations at 5 p.m. ET.
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 |
| Rockingham | 11 | Beat Chad Green; lost to Austin Prock | 30-13 | 2 |
| St. Louis | 7 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, Matt Hagan; lost to Austin Prock | 33-14 | 2 |
| Ennis | 6 | Beat Blake Alexander, Austin Prock; lost to Matt Hagan | 35-15 | 2 |
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