Vandergriff Rises to Second in Funny Car Points with NHRA Brainerd Runner-Up Finish

Jordan Vandergriff moves to second in Funny Car points after a runner-up finish at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals, closing a pivotal weekend for John Force Racing two weeks before the U.S. Nationals.

Driving the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car, he reaches his fourth final of 2026, adding wins in Valdosta and Sonoma and a runner-up in Epping.

The final features Matt Hagan, who holds lane choice. Vandergriff reacts quicker, .061 to Hagan’s .064, and initially appears on course for a third victory this year.

Mid-run, the Chevy drifts toward the centerline. To avoid a costly violation, Vandergriff pedals. Hagan wins with 3.946 at 320.13 mph; Vandergriff records 4.038 at 266.27.

Vandergriff accepts Hagan’s performance edge and underlines risk management. The call protects points at a critical phase of the regular season.

His route to the final is tidy. A first-round bye precedes victory over teammate Alexis DeJoria, decided on a .058 reaction time against her .087 despite near-identical 3.95-second runs.

He then defeats J.R. Todd with a composed 3.977, while Todd labors to 5.800 after issues early in the run.

DeJoria’s earlier 3.90s underline the program’s speed, reinforcing John Force Racing’s competitive baseline heading into Indianapolis.

Elsewhere, Jack Beckman is disqualified for crossing the centerline after early tire smoke, incurring a 20-point penalty and slipping from second to fifth in the standings.

The incident spotlights the rulebook’s hard edges: cross the line, lose the round and points. The margin for error remains razor thin at this stage.

Beckman acknowledges the error and praises the car’s speed, committing to reset before the Countdown. That resolve echoes themes in a recent Brainerd update.

In Top Fuel, Josh Hart’s Speedmaster dragster delivers a respectable opening pass, but Tony Stewart advances. Hart targets incremental gains with crew and tune-up.

The competitive picture tightens. The top four in Funny Car points are closely bunched, as a recent Brainerd analysis noted in the winners roundup, setting up a high-stakes U.S. Nationals finale.

Vandergriff’s momentum is clear, but the title fight remains open. Execution on lane choice, reaction times, and clean early increments may decide Indianapolis.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.