BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 21, 2026) – Jack Beckman and the PEAK SQUAD led John Force Racing’s four-car contingent with the second-quickest Funny Car run of the day in first day qualifying for the NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Beckman ran 3.903 seconds at 324.67 mph in Q1 and was the quickest of the session, earning three championship points in doing so. In Q2, the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car spun the tires 200 feet into the run, crossing the finish line in 6.156 seconds at 107.86 mph.
Alexis DeJoria put the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car in the No. 4 spot with a Q2 run of 3.927 seconds 324.83 mph despite a mechanical issue at the finish line. The team’s Q1 run of 3.969 seconds at 325.92 mph was third quickest of the session, earning one championship point.
Jordan Vandergriff put the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car in the No. 9 position with a Q2 run of 3.975 seconds at 302.82 mph. In Q1, a dropped cylinder slowed the team’s efforts with a run of 4.035 seconds at 265.38 mph.
Josh Hart wheeled the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster in Q2 to a run of 3.909 seconds at 261.12 mph for the 13th spot on the qualifying ladder after hazing the tires and shutting off early. Loss of traction at half track slowed their Q1 effort to a run of 4.541 seconds at 171.75 mph.
Saturday’s two qualifying sessions are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT.
Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car:
“I love the fact that we unloaded with low ET in the first session. You’re walking tall and your chest out after that. That gives us the opportunity to push the PEAK Chevy harder on the Friday evening session. It looks like it started spinning the tires just before 200 feet so we probably just pushed too hard on that run. There was a tremendously long delay in front of us and then pair in front of us blew the tires off and we ended up doing the same. I guess the good news is we only dropped one spot in the qualifying order. We’ll go into Saturday and see what the weather and the racetrack have available. I don’t know if it will give us something so we can step on it harder than the current number one spot, but we’re gonna run for points and data.”
Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car:
“We got one bonus point for finishing third in the first round of qualifying which was great. In Q2, we ran quicker with a 3.92 but, unfortunately, broke a belt and dropped a couple cylinders at the top end which oiled down the track. But tomorrow’s a new day. Making good runs here is important on the first day, and that’s what we did, so that’s the most important thing for the Bandero Chevy team.”
Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car:
“Day one showed promise for the Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car team. Our early numbers look good. We just dropped a hole in literally the same spot on both runs. We think we’ve diagnosed the problem. We’re making some changes that should fix things but our early numbers look good and the racetrack seems to be responding. I think Saturday will be better. This race means a lot to me and I think I’m a little more prepared for these runs than I was last year.”
Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster:
“The testing continues for John Force Racing’s Speedmaster Top Fuel team to ensure we are on point for the Countdown to the Championship.”
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
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