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Jordan Vandergriff Secures Thrilling Semifinal Spot at Texas NHRA FallNationals
Highlights
- Jordan Vandergriff lost semifinal to Matt Hagan at Texas NHRA FallNationals.
- Vandergriff posted career-best 3.877 seconds at 338.37 mph in opening round.
- Jack Beckman and Alexis DeJoria eliminated before Funny Car semifinals.
- Josh Hart lost opening Top Fuel round to Will Smith at Texas event.
- NHRA Las Vegas Nationals set for October 30 to November 1, 2026.
- Vandergriff remains second in points, challenging Hagan for Funny Car title.
Jordan Vandergriff reaches the semifinal at the Texas NHRA FallNationals but loses to Matt Hagan, keeping the Funny Car title fight alive as John Force Racing targets a late-season push.
The semifinal unravels immediately. Vandergriff’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS smokes the tires at launch. Hagan delivers 3.931 seconds at 335.10 mph, extending his advantage in the standings.
Vandergriff’s opening round sets the tone. He defeats No. 11 qualifier Blake Alexander with a career-best 3.877 at 338.37 mph, to Alexander’s 3.913 at 332.47 mph.
He follows with 3.9232 at 332.01 mph in round two, securing lane choice for the semifinal. Austin Prock red-lights and is disqualified, underlining how execution and discipline still dictate outcomes.
Career-best 3.877 seconds at 338.37 mph underscores Vandergriff’s peak performance in eliminations.
Teammate Jack Beckman advances past Terry Haddock with a 3.884 at 335.12 mph to 4.000. His PEAK Chevrolet then smokes the tires versus Ron Capps, exposing a narrow operating window.
Alexis DeJoria defeats Dave Richards with a 3.902 at 331.56 mph. She then loses a tight second-round holeshot to J.R. Todd, 3.930 at 333.75 mph, despite encouraging pace.
Vandergriff remains second in Funny Car points with two races left.
Top Fuel sees Josh Hart fall to No. 9 qualifier Will Smith. Hart’s 3.778 at 338.04 mph trails Smith’s 3.746 at 334.65 mph in a clean, straightforward contest.
Recent Top Fuel storylines, including Maddi Gordon’s rise, feature in ongoing coverage.
Semifinal loss comes after tire smoke at launch, handing Hagan a 3.931 at 335.10 mph victory.
Two events remain in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals runs October 30–November 1, where second-placed Vandergriff presses Hagan’s advantage.
His trajectory and setup direction are detailed in the latest FallNationals update.
Visual Summary
🏁
HAGAN
HAGAN
3.931s
335.10 mph
335.10 mph
💨
VANDERGRIFF
VANDERGRIFF
💨
Tire Smoke
R1
Vandergriff
3.877s
338.37 mph
3.877s
338.37 mph
R2
Vandergriff
3.923s
332.01 mph
3.923s
332.01 mph
Semis
Tire Smoke
Loss to Hagan
Loss to Hagan
🚦❌
Austin Prock
Disqualified
(red light)
Disqualified
(red light)
Vandergriff Career-Best
3.877s
at
338.37 mph
at
338.37 mph
Points Standings
2nd Place
2nd Place
Vandergriff trails Hagan with 2 events left
Beckman Chevy SS
Best: 3.884s
335.12 mph
Tire smoke in quarters
Best: 3.884s
335.12 mph
Tire smoke in quarters
DeJoria Chevy SS
Best: 3.902s
331.56 mph
Lost on holeshot
Best: 3.902s
331.56 mph
Lost on holeshot
TOP FUEL
Josh Hart
3.778s, 338.04 mph
Eliminated by Will Smith
Josh Hart
3.778s, 338.04 mph
Eliminated by Will Smith
💨
2 Races Left: The Chase Isn’t Over
Next: Las Vegas Nationals • Oct 30 – Nov 1
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.
