Jordan Vandergriff Races in NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
The rookie Funny Car driver aims to close a 98-point gap during this weekend's eliminations.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Motorsports
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Rookie Funny Car driver Jordan Vandergriff is competing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend as he looks to close the gap in the NHRA points standings. The John Force Racing driver enters the penultimate race of the season sitting 98 points behind Matt Hagan.
Why it matters
With only two races left on the circuit, this weekend serves as a critical push for Vandergriff in his first full season. His performance at the track directly impacts his standing in the championship chase as the season nears its conclusion.
Rookie driver Jordan Vandergriff trails leader Matt Hagan by 98 points in the Funny Car standings. With two races remaining, competitors like Jack Beckman and Shawn Langdon also continue to challenge the field on the track.
The players
Jordan Vandergriff
A rookie NHRA Funny Car driver competing for John Force Racing who currently sits in second place.
John Force Racing
The professional drag racing team that rebuilt its roster after the 2025 season.
Matt Hagan
The current points leader in the NHRA Funny Car standings.
Maddi Gordon
The driver who set a new Las Vegas Motor Speedway track record for Top Fuel speed at 340.56 mph.
The details
Vandergriff, driving for John Force Racing, finished fifth fastest in Friday qualifying with a speed of 332.02 mph. To mitigate potential weather issues, race officials moved the Nitro class qualifying sessions to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The eliminations are scheduled to conclude on Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Timeline
Friday qualifying sessions were held at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals eliminations will conclude on Sunday.
Beyond the Strip
This weekend continues a season of transition for John Force Racing following the departure of Austin Prock, who secured the previous two Funny Car world titles for the organization. Vandergriff is attempting to maintain the team's competitive dominance in his debut full season.
Expect increased traffic and fan activity around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway throughout the weekend. Fans attending the final eliminations on Sunday should monitor race updates as the event schedule proceeds.
The takeaway
Vandergriff is chasing a championship title in his rookie year while navigating a major team transition. Local fans should track the Sunday eliminations to see if he can narrow the 98-point deficit before the season finale.
What happens next
Eliminations are scheduled to conclude this Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Further reading
For more on local racing events and speedway news, visit our Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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