BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 11, 2026) – What a difference a year makes.
One year ago, Jordan Vandergriff was holding a microphone and talking into a FOX Sports camera about the season finale at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
Vandergriff is once again preparing for the Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals but this year he is vying for a championship in his first season as the driver of John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team.
Only 39 points separate him from point leader and four-time champion Matt Hagan going into the final event of the year where each round of eliminations is worth 30 points instead of the standard 20. Vandergriff is 65 points ahead of J.R. Todd in third place and 102 ahead of Austin Prock in fourth.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 19 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,563; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,524; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,459; 4. Austin Prock, 2,422; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,412; 6. Ron Capps, 2,408; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,314; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,239; 9. Spencer Hyde, 2,204; 10. Chad Green, 2,187.
Quotes
The Cornwell Tools team is 39 points out of first place headed into the Finals. Did you see yourself in this position when we in Pomona back in April?
“This this is what you dream of, right? I think any racer will tell you when they dream of getting a shot or the opportunity, they dream of winning championships. This is exactly what I thought of during all those years out of the seat. Now that I’m here, it’s like ’Wow, I guess this is what it actually feels like.’ So, to be here is truly a dream come true. The Cornwell Quality Tools team did exactly what we needed to do at Las Vegas. We got as close as we could to Hagan by winning the race and he went out in the second round. But the job is not finished. We have to close that gap and gain 10 or more points in qualifying to be within one round when eliminations start. That would make things much easier.”
Talk about the emotion you showed at the Las Vegas top end after beating Capps in the final round.
“That emotion wasn’t just for me. It was emotion for the team. I think I let it out for the entire team: for Chris Cunningham; for Jason Bunker; for my guys; and for myself. We knew how big that day could be for us and when J.R. (Todd) took out Hagan, Michael Riggs (crew member) was standing in front of my car and he gave a big fist bump. When he did that, I knew the door had opened and, if we did our job, we, we could take advantage. So, I think that emotion was just for the whole Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car team. They deserve this. They work so hard all year and put us in a great position heading into Pomona.”
What are your thoughts on the fact that the Cornwell Tools team has four event wins (and 39 round wins) this season, two of which have come in the five completed Countdown races?
“It starts at the top. Chris Cunningham (crew chief) is the guy we all respect and look to as our leader. He leads us with strength and confidence. When he comes on the radio, he sounds so confident in his decisions. He is not second guessing himself and, when I hear that, it lets me know we have the right guy leading us. Jason Bunker (co-crew chief) is right by Cunningham’s side and he has done such an unbelievable job. We couldn’t do it without them. They deserve the most credit for where we are. They’ve tuned the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy to all the round wins and our completion rate is up there with the best. This is the best team on property every weekend and, if all goes well, we’ll be the best team on the property in Pomona.”
Did you do anything special last weekend to take your mind off this weekend?
“I went back to Atlanta to attend my grandpa’s celebration of life and spend some time with the family. Now I’m going to get back into race mode because it this deserves my full attention. I’m 100% focused on this championship.”
Weekend Appearances
Vandergriff will sign autographs at the Mission Foods midway display on Sat., Nov. 14, from 8:30-9 a.m. PT.
Track Schedule
In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 15.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, followed by eliminations coverage at 5 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 |
| 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 Jack 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 |
| Seattle | 9 | Beat Spencer Hyde; lost to J.R. Todd | 21-10 | 4 |
| Brainerd | 1 | Bye, beat Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd; lost to Matt Hagan | 24-11 | 2 |
| Indianapolis | 7 | Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Austin Prock | 25-12 | 4 |
| Martin | 16 | Beat Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson, J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan | 29-12 | 2 |
| Rockingham | 11 | Beat Chad Green; lost to Austin Prock | 30-13 | 2 |
| St. Louis | 7 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, Matt Hagan; lost to Austin Prock | 33-14 | 2 |
| Ennis | 6 | Beat Blake Alexander, Austin Prock; lost to Matt Hagan | 35-15 | 2 |
| Las Vegas | 3 | Beat Julie Nataas, Spencer Hyde, J.R. Todd, Ron Capps | 39-15 | 2 |
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