BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 22, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff used his rookie status in the first half of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season as somewhat of a shield from outside performance expectations but, after his second win of the season last week at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and second place in the point standings, eyes are starting to turn his way as a strong competitor for the regular season championship and more.
Vandergriff and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team take the next step toward those goals at the July 24-26 Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. The Chris Cunningham/Jason Bunker-led team were dominant all weekend at Sonoma in earning their second Diamond Wally of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and John Force Racing’s 334th overall event win in Funny Car (313) and Top Fuel (24).
The Cornwell Tools team is now 74 points, less than four rounds of competition, behind point leader Ron Capps with three races remaining in the regular season. This week’s NHRA Northwest Nationals and upcoming Aug. 20-23 NHRA Brainerd Nationals will award standard points while the regular season conclusion, the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals, will awards points and a half. That means the opportunity for Vandergriff to end up at the top of the heap heading into the six-race Countdown to the Championship are even greater.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 11 of 20 races are: 1. Ron Capps, 852; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 778; 3. Jack Beckman, 764; 4. Matt Hagan, 744; 5. J.R. Todd, 721; 6. Chad Green, 667; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 644; 8. Austin Prock, 597; 9. Spencer Hyde, 544; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 543.
Quotes
The Cornwell Tools Chevrolet team heads to Seattle after winning at Sonoma for your second win of the season so what are your thoughts a couple days after the fact?
“Sonoma was the best weekend so far for the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet team. Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker (crew chiefs), and all my Cornwell Quality Tools guys gave me an amazing race car. I just sat in the car and tried to do my job and they just did the rest. They gave me the best race car on the property, no doubt about it, from Q2 on and that’s all credit to them. I just get in, hit the gas and keep it straight. It was a very strong weekend for us and I think a strong sign of what’s to come for the rest of the year as we chase down the regular season championship and whole season, as well.”
You drove home from South Georgia with our first win Wally trophy so what was it like flying home with it after the Sonoma win?
“Let me tell you, Wally is a superstar. Walking through the airport with Wally, more people wanted to talk to him and take pictures with him than they did me. It was a cool experience to walk through an airport with the trophy of our series. Some people asked questions about what it was and others already knew so it was a cool experience. He sat in my lap on the plane ride home and everything was okay.
What’s your assessment of the rookie driver in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car after the season’s first 11 races, having won two races and sitting second in the point standings?
“That new driver in the seat is still a rookie but we’ve performed very well as a team. I’ve had some hiccups here and there but I’ve also had some really good runs\ and really good days. I think I’ve always known that I had what it takes and now I’m getting a chance to prove it. I’m very fortunate to be a part of John Force Racing and driving this Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car because they are the best of the best. So, the best place to showcase what you think you have with your talents is the best organization and the best team. It’s all working out and we find ourselves exactly where I think we should be which is 2nd in the points.
You raced Top Fuel at Pacific Raceways in 2019 for your family-owned team so what are your thoughts of the facility, the fans, and the racing that takes place there?
“I love the city of Seattle. It’s beautiful and I love racing in Seattle because, uh, it always meant something to me because one of my best friends lived there for the last few years so I got to see him. Seattle for me when I was racing in 2019 meant things. It was the site of my buddy’s first win and we’re pretty competitive with each other so I have some scars (laughs). But 2019 Seattle was also where John Force won his 150th race, which is obviously the most memorable part. I remember after the win, he hopped the fence and went nuts with all the fans. Let’s put it this way: watch out fences this weekend. I might be jumping some too.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will participate in the Seattle Fanfest autograph session on Thurs., July 23, from 6-7 p.m. PT at Dave & Busters located at 1101 Outlet Collection Way, Auburn, Wash., 98001. On Friday, July 24, he will be signing autographs from 3:30-4 p.m. at the John Force RAcing merchandise trailer on the NHRA midway. Finally, on Sat., July 25 from 9-9:30 a.m., he will be signing autographs at the Mission Foods display on the NHRA midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds on Friday, July 24 at 2:30 and 5 p.m. PT. On Saturday, July 25, nitro teams will qualify at 12 and 2:30 p.m. PT. Race day will kick off with nitro eliminations on Sunday, July 26 at 10 a.m. PT
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
2026 Results
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Vandergriff and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team take the next step toward those goals at the July 24-26 Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. The Chris Cunningham/Jason Bunker-led team were dominant all weekend at Sonoma in earning their second Diamond Wally of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and John Force Racing’s 334th overall event win in Funny Car (313) and Top Fuel (24).
The Cornwell Tools team is now 74 points, less than four rounds of competition, behind point leader Ron Capps with three races remaining in the regular season. This week’s NHRA Northwest Nationals and upcoming Aug. 20-23 NHRA Brainerd Nationals will award standard points while the regular season conclusion, the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals, will awards points and a half. That means the opportunity for Vandergriff to end up at the top of the heap heading into the six-race Countdown to the Championship are even greater.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 11 of 20 races are: 1. Ron Capps, 852; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 778; 3. Jack Beckman, 764; 4. Matt Hagan, 744; 5. J.R. Todd, 721; 6. Chad Green, 667; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 644; 8. Austin Prock, 597; 9. Spencer Hyde, 544; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 543.
Quotes
The Cornwell Tools Chevrolet team heads to Seattle after winning at Sonoma for your second win of the season so what are your thoughts a couple days after the fact?
“Sonoma was the best weekend so far for the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet team. Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker (crew chiefs), and all my Cornwell Quality Tools guys gave me an amazing race car. I just sat in the car and tried to do my job and they just did the rest. They gave me the best race car on the property, no doubt about it, from Q2 on and that’s all credit to them. I just get in, hit the gas and keep it straight. It was a very strong weekend for us and I think a strong sign of what’s to come for the rest of the year as we chase down the regular season championship and whole season, as well.”
You drove home from South Georgia with our first win Wally trophy so what was it like flying home with it after the Sonoma win?
“Let me tell you, Wally is a superstar. Walking through the airport with Wally, more people wanted to talk to him and take pictures with him than they did me. It was a cool experience to walk through an airport with the trophy of our series. Some people asked questions about what it was and others already knew so it was a cool experience. He sat in my lap on the plane ride home and everything was okay.
What’s your assessment of the rookie driver in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car after the season’s first 11 races, having won two races and sitting second in the point standings?
“That new driver in the seat is still a rookie but we’ve performed very well as a team. I’ve had some hiccups here and there but I’ve also had some really good runs\ and really good days. I think I’ve always known that I had what it takes and now I’m getting a chance to prove it. I’m very fortunate to be a part of John Force Racing and driving this Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car because they are the best of the best. So, the best place to showcase what you think you have with your talents is the best organization and the best team. It’s all working out and we find ourselves exactly where I think we should be which is 2nd in the points.
You raced Top Fuel at Pacific Raceways in 2019 for your family-owned team so what are your thoughts of the facility, the fans, and the racing that takes place there?
“I love the city of Seattle. It’s beautiful and I love racing in Seattle because, uh, it always meant something to me because one of my best friends lived there for the last few years so I got to see him. Seattle for me when I was racing in 2019 meant things. It was the site of my buddy’s first win and we’re pretty competitive with each other so I have some scars (laughs). But 2019 Seattle was also where John Force won his 150th race, which is obviously the most memorable part. I remember after the win, he hopped the fence and went nuts with all the fans. Let’s put it this way: watch out fences this weekend. I might be jumping some too.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will participate in the Seattle Fanfest autograph session on Thurs., July 23, from 6-7 p.m. PT at Dave & Busters located at 1101 Outlet Collection Way, Auburn, Wash., 98001. On Friday, July 24, he will be signing autographs from 3:30-4 p.m. at the John Force RAcing merchandise trailer on the NHRA midway. Finally, on Sat., July 25 from 9-9:30 a.m., he will be signing autographs at the Mission Foods display on the NHRA midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds on Friday, July 24 at 2:30 and 5 p.m. PT. On Saturday, July 25, nitro teams will qualify at 12 and 2:30 p.m. PT. Race day will kick off with nitro eliminations on Sunday, July 26 at 10 a.m. PT
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 4 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 | 1 | Beat Jeff Arend, Chad Green, J.R. Todd; lost to 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 |
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