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.
“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,” said Vandergriff. “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.”
Only 39 points separate him from points 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.
“It starts at the top,” Vandergriff points out. “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.”
Vandergriff will sign autographs at the Mission Foods midway display on Sat., Nov. 14, from 8:30-9 a.m. PT.
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.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, followed by eliminations coverage at 5 p.m.
This story was originally published on November 11, 2026. 
