BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 13, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and his Chris Cunningham-Jason Bunker-led Cornwell Tools team checked off a major accomplishment with their young driver’s well-deserved first NHRA national event win two weeks in South Georgia but it’s back to business as they prepare for the May 15-17 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
It took just five races into Vandergriff’s Funny Car career to earn that first victory, in his adopted home state of Georgia, no less. It was an accomplishment he’d prepared since 2019 when racing an abbreviated Top Fuel season for his family-owned team.
Vandergriff celebrated with his Cornwell Tools team that night and the next morning drove home north on I-75 for three-and-a-half hours with his winner’s trophy belted into the passenger seat of his Chevrolet pickup truck.
But shortly after getting home and finding a spot to display his trophy, it was back to work preparing for this week’s event at Route 66 Raceway.
The Route 66 NHRA Nationals was one of the 11 Top Fuel races Vandegriff competed in during the 2019 season, defeating Clay Millican in the first round before losing to Antron Brown in the second round.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after five of 20 races are: 1. J.R. Todd, 411; 2. Ron Capps, 408; 3. Matt Hagan, 386; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 383; 5. Chad Green, 340; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 297; 7. Spencer Hyde, 275; 8. Jack Beckman, 245; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 201; 10. Dave Richards, 171.
Quotes
How has your week been since getting that first Funny Car event win?
“That first win was something I’ve been going after for a very long time and getting it under my belt is a dream come true. But honestly, this week it’s been ‘back to work.’ I understand that the first win is huge, for me personally and for my career, but the first win for this Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy team is hopefully the beginning of more this year and a run at the championship.”
What has your winner’s trophy, Wally, been up to?
“Wally had a great time driving back up to Atlanta sitting in the passenger seat. We chatted the whole way, talked about the weekend, what he’s been up to and how many other people he’s been with. We had a great time and he’s got a place of his own: I have a coffee table in my living room and it’s all his, with his medal and his hat, just chilling.
Talk about the special on-track celebration you had with your uncle Bob Vandergriff Jr.
“As I look back on it, it was just a storybook ending. As I was running back up the track, I was thinking about my entire career and then I looked up and I saw him (his uncle) on the track. I thought it was the perfect ending for him to meet me on the track because I wouldn’t be racing if it wasn’t for him. He gave me an opportunity back in the day to drive for him and I wouldn’t have any of these opportunities without him. I wouldn’t have even be running up the track in celebration if he hadn’t done the same thing. So, to cap off the win with him means a lot to me and my family and it’s a memory we will forever remember.”
What do you take from the Georgia win going into Chicago?
“Winning at South Georgia shows that this Cornwall Quality Tools Funny Car team is not one to mess with. We’re here to win. We knew coming into the season that there was going to be an unknown factor with me being a new driver and a new crew chief duo and a new team. The win is a sign that we’re here. We’ve arrived. We can hang with the best of them. So, that’s how we feel going into Chicago. We’re right in the thick of the points, only 28 points out of first, which is a really good place to be. We want to go to Chicago and do it again.”
What will it be like racing in PEAK’s back yard?
“PEAK is Mr. Force’s sponsor, and they always will be. So, without PEAK, there would be no opportunity for me. PEAK has been a pivotal sponsor of John Force Racing and I want to do all I can to represent them in their backyard. I know how much this race means to PEAK and the PEAK SQUAD so I’m going into this weekend with the goal of representing them well.”
Stats
| Chicago | Race Result | Round Wins | Round Loss | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2019 (TF) | 2nd round | Def. C. Millican | Lost to A. Brown | 10th | 1-1 |
| 2020 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2025 (TF) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Starts: 1
Wins: 0
Runner-ups: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 1-1
Track & TV Schedules
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5:0 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15, with the final two rounds Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 11 a.m. CT.
VANDERGRIFF FOCUSED ON SECOND WIN AFTER FIRST
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 13, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and his Chris Cunningham-Jason Bunker-led Cornwell Tools team checked off a major accomplishment with their young driver’s well-deserved first NHRA national event win two weeks in South Georgia but it’s back to business as they prepare for the May 15-17 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
It took just five races into Vandergriff’s Funny Car career to earn that first victory, in his adopted home state of Georgia, no less. It was an accomplishment he’d prepared since 2019 when racing an abbreviated Top Fuel season for his family-owned team.
Vandergriff celebrated with his Cornwell Tools team that night and the next morning drove home north on I-75 for three-and-a-half hours with his winner’s trophy belted into the passenger seat of his Chevrolet pickup truck.
But shortly after getting home and finding a spot to display his trophy, it was back to work preparing for this week’s event at Route 66 Raceway.
The Route 66 NHRA Nationals was one of the 11 Top Fuel races Vandegriff competed in during the 2019 season, defeating Clay Millican in the first round before losing to Antron Brown in the second round.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after five of 20 races are: 1. J.R. Todd, 411; 2. Ron Capps, 408; 3. Matt Hagan, 386; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 383; 5. Chad Green, 340; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 297; 7. Spencer Hyde, 275; 8. Jack Beckman, 245; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 201; 10. Dave Richards, 171.
Quotes
How has your week been since getting that first Funny Car event win?
“That first win was something I’ve been going after for a very long time and getting it under my belt is a dream come true. But honestly, this week it’s been ‘back to work.’ I understand that the first win is huge, for me personally and for my career, but the first win for this Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy team is hopefully the beginning of more this year and a run at the championship.”
What has your winner’s trophy, Wally, been up to?
“Wally had a great time driving back up to Atlanta sitting in the passenger seat. We chatted the whole way, talked about the weekend, what he’s been up to and how many other people he’s been with. We had a great time and he’s got a place of his own: I have a coffee table in my living room and it’s all his, with his medal and his hat, just chilling.
Talk about the special on-track celebration you had with your uncle Bob Vandergriff Jr.
“As I look back on it, it was just a storybook ending. As I was running back up the track, I was thinking about my entire career and then I looked up and I saw him (his uncle) on the track. I thought it was the perfect ending for him to meet me on the track because I wouldn’t be racing if it wasn’t for him. He gave me an opportunity back in the day to drive for him and I wouldn’t have any of these opportunities without him. I wouldn’t have even be running up the track in celebration if he hadn’t done the same thing. So, to cap off the win with him means a lot to me and my family and it’s a memory we will forever remember.”
What do you take from the Georgia win going into Chicago?
“Winning at South Georgia shows that this Cornwall Quality Tools Funny Car team is not one to mess with. We’re here to win. We knew coming into the season that there was going to be an unknown factor with me being a new driver and a new crew chief duo and a new team. The win is a sign that we’re here. We’ve arrived. We can hang with the best of them. So, that’s how we feel going into Chicago. We’re right in the thick of the points, only 28 points out of first, which is a really good place to be. We want to go to Chicago and do it again.”
What will it be like racing in PEAK’s back yard?
“PEAK is Mr. Force’s sponsor, and they always will be. So, without PEAK, there would be no opportunity for me. PEAK has been a pivotal sponsor of John Force Racing and I want to do all I can to represent them in their backyard. I know how much this race means to PEAK and the PEAK SQUAD so I’m going into this weekend with the goal of representing them well.”
Stats
| Chicago | Race Result | Round Wins | Round Loss | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2019 (TF) | 2nd round | Def. C. Millican | Lost to A. Brown | 10th | 1-1 |
| 2020 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2025 (TF) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Starts: 1
Wins: 0
Runner-ups: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 1-1
Track & TV Schedules
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5:0 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15, with the final two rounds Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 11 a.m. CT.
Television coverage on FS1 includes qualifying on Friday, May 15, from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show on Saturday, May 16, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast on Sunday, May 17, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET.