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Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Thrills with Vandergriff, Kalitta, Anderson Wins at New England Dragway
Highlights
- Jordan Vandergriff earned first career No. 1 Funny Car qualifier spot
- Doug Kalitta won third Mission Challenge in Top Fuel this year
- Shawn Langdon qualified No. 1 for second consecutive Top Fuel race
- Greg Anderson won Pro Stock Mission Challenge, secured fifth No. 1 qualifying
- John Force Racing took top three Funny Car qualifying spots
- NHRA New England Nationals eliminations start Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET
Jordan Vandergriff crowns a breakout Saturday at New England Dragway, winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and securing his first Funny Car No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA New England Nationals.
A 3.913s, 323.58mph pass in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS defeats points leader Ron Capps in the bonus final and locks a John Force Racing qualifying lockout for Sunday’s eliminations.
Vandergriff’s 3.913 at 323.58 mph delivers his first career Funny Car No. 1.
Jack Beckman posts 3.921 at 327.35 to briefly top the charts, before Vandergriff responds. Alexis DeJoria’s 3.929 at 312.42 completes the team’s top-three sweep after holding Friday’s provisional lead.
Vandergriff credits Beckman for driving input and DeJoria for coaching the emotional load. That internal support accelerates his adaptation to Funny Car’s demands and tightens John Force Racing’s operational cohesion.
His year now features two Mission wins, a Wally, and a first pole. The ladder position reduces early jeopardy but raises expectation on race-day turnaround and lane selection discipline.
John Force Racing secures the top three Funny Car qualifying places heading into eliminations.
Doug Kalitta continues his 2026 efficiency, taking a third Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win by beating teammate Shawn Langdon with a 3.776 at 333.82 in the Mac Tools dragster.
Kalitta Motorsports dominates the specialty format, with Kalitta and Langdon winning five of six combined. The extra competitive reps, seen since the recent Maryland round, sharpen clutch decisions and staging execution under playoff-style pressure.
Shawn Langdon’s 3.709 at 334.98 secures a second straight Top Fuel No. 1.
Langdon still leads qualifying after Friday’s 3.709 at 334.98 in the Kalitta Air car. He arrives with three consecutive wins and four from six this season, emphasizing baseline consistency.
Leah Pruett’s 3.712 at 335.73 and Josh Hart’s 3.724 at 337.92 complete the Top Fuel top three. In particular, Pruett’s New England form echoes gains noted earlier this week.
Greg Anderson adds the Pro Stock Mission win with a 6.545 at 209.17 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, overhauling Troy Coughlin Jr. after a stronger launch from the rival lane.
He also banks a fifth No. 1 of 2026 with Friday’s 6.508 at 210.67. The defending event winner’s momentum follows Anderson’s 114th victory, underlining sustained engine and chassis performance.
Anderson concedes some fortune, yet points to power and drivability. Minor adjustments remain before raceday, centred on incremental track evolution and maintaining early-shift discipline.
Matt Latino’s 6.525 at 210.77 and father Eric’s 6.534 at 210.57 secure second and third. The family pairing underscores the class’s depth and the value of repeatable setups.
Eliminations start Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET at New England Dragway.
Eliminations begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET. Form suggests Vandergriff, Kalitta, and Anderson carry narrow advantages, but lane choice and turnaround precision will likely decide margins at New England Dragway.
Visual Summary
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Jordan Vandergriff Blasts to No.1 ?
First career No.1 Qualifier after defeating Ron Capps and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
3.913 sec @ 323.58 mph ?
3.913 sec @ 323.58 mph ?
Funny Car
Vandergriff
3.913
@323.6 mph
Top Fuel
Langdon ⚡
3.709
@334.98 mph
Pro Stock
Anderson
6.508
@210.67 mph
Rookie Vandergriff’s climb
From rookie to #1 in one dramatic surge!
“My teammates believed in me—this win is for them just as much as for me.”
— Jordan Vandergriff
— Jordan Vandergriff
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
