BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff learned over the previous two events that NHRA drag racing can be a fickle dance partner but he and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevy SS Funny Car team look to regain their winning form at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, May 29-31 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsburg, Md.
Vandergriff stormed to his first NHRA Funny Car victory May 3 at the Southern Nationals, the inaugural NHRA national event at South Georgia Motorsports in his adopted home state. Just two weeks later, however, at Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago, the team qualified 10th and, despite a solid run, lost in the first round against eventual event winner Chad Green.
The results exemplify the extreme yin and yang of the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph sport but Vandergriff sees it simply as part of the learning process to a long and successful career.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.
Quotes
You had great success at South Georgia in early May with this season’s first inaugural event so how do you see things working out at Maryland International Raceway?
“I know absolutely nothing about Maryland but I’m super excited to get there to learn all about it, see the venue and track and meet all the fans. I think it’s cool for the NHRA to go to new markets so we can race in front of new fans as well as longtime fans. The new tracks level the playing field and, based on the last time we went to a new track, it worked in our favor. I’m really confident in Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker and this Cornwell Quality Tools team to figure out the new racetracks.”
You talked about some of the things you prepared for going to the inaugural at South Georgia that the average fan may not think about.
“The first thing is to check out the shutdown area to see how long it is, where the turnoff is, how hard I’ll need to turn around and where we’re going to get back to the pit area. Then it’s up to the starting line to get a view of the overall area, the eye level down track, looking at the Christmas Tree from where I’ll be staging the car, getting a feel for how the grandstands are laid out and what sight lines you have there and if wind may come into play at some point down the track. There are plenty of things you have to check out coming to a new racetrack but it’s all fun.”
The first-round loss at Chicago after winning your first event just two weeks before couldn’t have been on that list of firsts you’ve spoken about this year. Talk about how you’ve worked through the mental process in preparation for this weekend.
“The main takeaway is that drag racing isn’t easy. We were coming off our best weekend, my first career win in South Georgia. We get to Chicago just two weeks later and we struggled all weekend. We actually had a really good run in the first round of eliminations but just got outrun a little bit. It’s the highs and lows of drag racing and you’re going to go through these kinds of times. You obviously don’t want the lows but they’re going to happen. We know the Cornwell Tools Chevy has been really good all season so we’re going to brush this one off, reset and head into Maryland with the confidence that we have had all year.”
How do you prepare for the upcoming three races in consecutive weekends?
“It’s going to be a whirlwind but I’m just going to try to stay locked in throughout the three weeks. I’ll come into Maryland ready to go, with the mindset that this is the start of a three-week run where I have to be ready at all times. It’s going to be great bonding experience for the team and a good chance to prove that we can we can be consistently strong over the three weeks.”
How do you plan to keep up your physical fitness during this three-week stretch?
“I like to use fitness as a way to stay sharp. I’ve been thinking about the routine I’ll have on the road in these three weeks. It will be a challenge but I’ll find time at the hotel gym. Maybe not so much lifting but focusing instead on getting an hour of cardio in each day.”
Weekend Appearances
Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET, NHRA Fan Fest at The Barns at New Market, 29133 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, 20659; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 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 |
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