BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 23, 2026) – Jack Beckman loves racing in NASCAR country and doing so at Rockingham (N.C.) will take on special meaning as his John Force Racing team will be flying the HendrickCars.com scheme in the inaugural Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock.
Beckman and Company have been hot since Maryland in late May. In those previous nine races, the team has earned two wins (Epping, Indianapolis), two runner-up finishes (Maryland, Norwalk), one No. 1 Qualifier (Maryland) and qualified no worse than fourth at every other event other than Brainerd (sixth). The team is currently third in the point standings, 31 behind teammate Jordan Vandergriff and 54 out of the lead.
Last week in Round 1 of the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, the 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion ran the quickest Funny Car run of the 2026 season (3.832 seconds) and the fastest run of his career (337.08 mph) to take the win against Jeff Diehl.
John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools team’s win in the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park made Jordan Vandergriff the ninth John Force Racing driver to win a Countdown to the Championship race and, in doing so, earned the organization’s 45th Countdown event. He joins John Force (7 Countdown wins), Robert Hight (16), Brittany Force (7), Austin Prock (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2), Jack Beckman (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 15 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,208; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,185; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,154; 4. Ron Capps, 2,145; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,139; 6. Austin Prock, 2,099; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,088; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,069; 9. Chad Green, 2,055; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,033.
Quotes
What’s it going to be like racing at The Rock for the first time?
“I love inaugural races because I get to race on a track I haven’t before. I’ve been to Rockingham, I think it was 2009, to film a TV commercial. We did a couple burnouts and a couple 80 mph deploy-the-parachute runs but I’ve never floored the throttle at Rockingham. It’s always great to race in NASCAR country. Gearheads are gearheads but, sometimes you need to remind people who might like vanilla ice cream to try chocolate chip. It’s also pretty good. I love getting feedback from NASCAR fans, especially the first timers. I think the flavor of ice cream we have to offer is fantastic.”
What does it mean to you to race with the HendrickCars.com branding identification on your race car?
“I am always proud to represent John and John Force Racing but to represent Rick Hendrick, or Mr. H as he’s known, at both Charlotte and Rockingham is special. One of the primary jobs of a race car driver is to represent your sponsors in a professional and credible manner. I have talked to Mr. Hendrick on getting used cars before and he has been so helpful. Rick Hendrick is a quality human being. He’s a gearhead who started his racing career down the quarter mile and his museum features a number of iconic drag race vehicles. He gets it. He knows the NHRA provides a great demographic. He and John have a special relationship, and this will be the second time this year, we get to sport the HendrickCars.com colors on our Chevy SS Funny Car. We didn’t close the deal the first time (runner-up at Charlotte) but, the way we’re running lately, I would love to stand in that winner’s circle on Sunday and have another tribute to Rick Hendrick and everything that HendrickCars.com and his team have done for us.”
Which driver, past or present, would you like to line up against at least once?
“I have been so fortunate in my career. I have lined up next to every Funny Car world champion since 1982 with one exception. Frank Hawley came out of retirement so I got to race him. Kenny Bernstein came out of retirement so I got to race him. Mark Oswald ran one or two races, and I got to line up next to him. The only one I missed out on was the 1989 champion, Bruce Larson. I want to rent golf carts one day so he and I can line up. That said, “Jungle Jim” Liberman would be near the top of the list to line up against but I’d have to go with Ed “The Ace” McCulloch. I’d like to get McCulloch suited up and put him in the other lane. But then there’s Don Prudhomme. So, Snake or Ace would be the one.”
Weekend Appearances
Beckman will be signing autographs Sat., Sept. 26, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Quality Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 25 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on Sun., Sept. 27, includes qualifying on FS1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET before eliminations action at from 3 – 6 p.m.
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 9 | Lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 0-1 | 11 |
| Phoenix | 2 | Lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 0-2 | 10 |
| Pomona1 | 8 | Beat Jim Campbell; lost to J.R. Todd | 1-3 | 10 |
| Charlotte | 6 | Advanced Rounds 1 & 2; runner-up to Ron Capps | 3-4 | 8 |
| Valdosta | 11 | Lost to Matt Hagan | 3-5 | 8 |
| Chicago | 1 | Beat Chris King; lost to Matt Hagan | 4-6 | 8 |
| Maryland | 1 | Beat Joe Morrison, J.R. Todd, Jordan Vandergriff; lost to Austin Prock | 7-7 | 7 |
| Epping | 2 | Beat Phil Burkart Jr., Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jordán Vandergriff | 11-7 | 5 |
| Bristol | 3 | Beat Jeff Arend; lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 12-8 | 5 |
| Norwalk | 4 | Beat Spencer Hyde, Daniel Wilkerson, Austin Prock; lost to Ron Capps | 15-9 | 4 |
| Sonoma | 2 | Beat Jeff Arend, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 17-10 | 3 |
| Seattle | 2 | Beat Tim Gibbons, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Austin Prock | 19-11 | 2 |
| Brainerd | 6 | Lost (DQ) to Chad Green | 19-12 | 5 |
| Indianapolis | 3 | Beat Jeff Arend, Alexis DeJoria, Austin Prock, Matt Hagan | 23-12 | 3 |
| Martin | 2 | Beat Jeff Diehl, Ron Capps; lost to Matt Hagan | 25-13 | 3 |
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