BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff had a successful NHRA professional debut in 2019 at Firebird Motorsports Park when he competed in Top Fuel for his family-owned team and he’s looking to go a couple round-wins better when he returns in the John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.
This weekend’s event will be just the second time Vandergriff has competed at Firebird Motorsports Park but the Atlanta-area resident made the best of his inaugural visit with a seminal showing. After qualifying fourth, he ran low ET of the first round to defeat Brittany Force and then put Doug Kalitta on the trailer with a holeshot of almost three-hundredths of a second and a run just one-thousandth of a second quicker. Vandergriff cut a strong light in the semifinal against eventual race winner Billy Torrence (.064 to Torrence’s .062) but smoked the tires shortly into the run.
The Cornwell Tools team, led by crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, qualified eighth and reached the semifinal at this season’s opening round at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Vandergriff defeated John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the first round, John Smith in the second, and got the holeshot in the semifinal against eventual event winner Chad Green, running 4.068 seconds at 300.40 mph to Green’s 3.980 at 324.83.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.
Quotes
What does it mean for your team to have had a strong start to the season?
It was huge for us, being a new team with Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker as crew chiefs and a whole new crew, and me as a new driver. We came in there and just wanted to do the best we could and that semifinal finish for us is really, really good. We came together so quickly and we’ve gelled so quickly. We knew we could do the job and, looking forward to the rest of the year, we know we’re capable of doing even better.
What are some of the positives you took away from Gainesville?
“The Cornwell Tools Chevy team left Gainesville fourth on the points. You know, that’s really a great start. We’ve gelled so quickly as a team and were able to find some success right off the bat. We know that we’re capable of doing even better so we’re looking forward to Phoenix. Phoenix is going to be hot so the track is going to be tricky, but Gainesville was hot and we handled it pretty well, so I feel confident we’re going to handle Phoenix well, too.”
Do you detach from racing between events or stay at least somewhat in the zone?
“This is my first full season as a race car driver so I’m settling in and figuring out what my day-to-day life is in between races. So far, it’s time spent staying ready, going to the gym, keeping my mind focused, keeping my body ready during the weeks between races. I love being at the race track and I’ll be ready to hit the track again when we get to Phoenix.”
Is there a different way to prepare for triple-digit temperatures expected in Phoenix?
“I think the most important thing is just to stay hydrated. I’ll stay hydrated through this whole week and then, once we get to Phoenix, hydrate even more because you’re gonna lose so much water in your sweat. So, for me it’s just overloading a little bit and, when we get there, just making sure I’m on point with it.”
Stats
| Phoenix | Race Result | Qualified | Event Round Record |
| 2019 (TF) | Semi-finals | 4th | 2-1 |
Starts:
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 2-1
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
###
