ADEL, Ga. — It took just five events behind the wheel of John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for Jordan Vandergriff to make the final round of eliminations and he made the best of it in capturing his first NHRA event win at the NHRA Southern Nationals in his adopted state of Georgia.
Vandergriff streaked across the finish line in 4.007 seconds at 314.17 mph as J.R. Todd, the 2018 NHRA Funny Car World Champion and winner of last week’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, lost traction early and clicked it off.
The win made the third generation drag racer the 13th different driver to win a Top Fuel or Funny Car event in NHRA competition for John Force Racing.
Immediately after winning, Vandergriff popped out of his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car and sprinted back up the race track, much like his uncle, Bob Vandergriff Jr., did after his victories in Top Fuel.
“I’m still kind of taking in just how special this is. This moment is something I thought of for a very long time, since my last final in 2019, when I lost to Billy Torrence in Dallas,” Vandergriff said. “You know, running up the track was something I always thought about doing because my uncle did it out of pure joy when he won his first, and I just had to do it.
“I was contemplating it in the car before the run, and I was like, I’m doing it, no matter what. Hopefully, this is just the first of many, and it’s a good one to start.”
Vandergriff dedicated the victory to Adria Force Hight, team owner John Force’s eldest daughter, who passed away April 28.
“Adria got this one for me, and I truly believe that,” said Vandergriff. “I had a feeling since this morning when I thought about that her and Autumn (Adria’s daughter Autumn Hight), and the Force family and everything they’ve been through this week. I was just thinking about everything Adria did for John Force Racing. She was a pivotal part of this organization and I thank her for all the hard work she put in in helping John build this amazing race team that is giving me the chance to live my dreams and represent them.”
Vandergriff defeated Hunter Green in his semifinal round, making a solid 3.964-second run at 331.36 mph to Green’s 4.151-second effort. He defeated Spencer Hyde in round two, running 3.956 seconds at 332.34 mph to a tire-smoking Hyde. In round one, Vandergriff ran 3.950 seconds at 330.63 mph to Jeff Arend’s 4.154 seconds at 309.77 mph.
