Jordan Vandergriff Races at Las Vegas Nationals
The Funny Car rookie looks to close a 98-point gap as the NHRA season nears its conclusion in Las Vegas.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Motorsports
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Jordan Vandergriff is competing in the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as he chases the Funny Car title. The rookie driver currently sits in second place in the point standings with only two races remaining on the calendar.
Why it matters
Vandergriff faces a significant 98-point deficit behind leader Matt Hagan as he attempts to secure a championship in his first full season. His performance this weekend is critical to maintaining title contention as the NHRA season reaches its final stages.
Vandergriff recorded a 3.909-second elapsed time at 332.02 mph during qualifying, finishing fifth fastest. Maddi Gordon set a new Top Fuel track record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a speed of 340.56 mph.
The players
Jordan Vandergriff
He is a Funny Car driver for John Force Racing who is competing in his first full NHRA season.
Matt Hagan
He is the current leader in the NHRA Funny Car points standings.
John Force Racing
This professional drag racing team previously won consecutive Funny Car world titles with driver Austin Prock.
Maddi Gordon
She set a new track record for Top Fuel speed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event.
The details
Vandergriff, who drives for John Force Racing, is currently in his first full national season after previously working for Fox Sports and appearing on reality television. To avoid potential weather impacts, event organizers moved the Nitro class qualifying sessions to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Timeline
Jordan Vandergriff made his NHRA nationals debut in 2019.
The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals eliminations will conclude on Sunday.
Season Trajectory
This weekend serves as a decisive battleground for the championship race as the points gap narrows between the top contenders. Performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will dictate the competitive landscape heading into the final race of the season.
Vandergriff enters eliminations 98 points behind Matt Hagan, meaning he must secure a deep run at this event to remain in the title hunt. Fantasy participants should note the adjusted qualifying schedule for the Nitro classes to monitor real-time performance data.
The takeaway
Vandergriff has successfully transitioned from a hiatus after his 2019 debut back into a top-tier competitive role. His current standing demonstrates that even mid-season gaps can be bridged with high-stakes performance in the final events.
What happens next
The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals eliminations will conclude on Sunday, determining how the points gap shifts ahead of the final race of the season.
Further reading
Follow the latest updates on the championship chase in the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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