John Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff and Fast Jack Beckman at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida – Motorsport America Photo
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 10, 2026) – Funny Car teammates Jack Beckman and
Jordan Vandergriff from John Force Racing will be racing for two
trophies at this weekend’s Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals,
starting when they face off on Friday at scenic Bristol Dragway to
complete last weekend’s race in New England.
Beckman, the 2013 Funny Car world champion, and his teammate, Funny Car
newcomer Vandergriff, who won last month in Valdosta, will be racing on
Friday in Bristol in the delayed Epping final.
The JFR teammates will face off under the lights on Friday during the
second session of qualifying. Fans will be treated to a thrilling nitro
session at night racing with Beckman and Vandergriff matching up in
Funny Car, while Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon will take on Leah
Pruett.
It also means Beckman and Vandergriff both have a chance to win Friday,
pick up a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory on Saturday and add a
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals triumph on Sunday.
“Q2 will be the night run and the hero shot,” said Beckman, driver
of the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car. “I’ve always raced smart, which
means you qualify shallow. It gives you the best possible elapsed time
because you get to move further before it starts your elapsed time.
“Well, because Q2 is also going to count for qualifying and likely is
going to be the best conditions we see in qualifying, I’m going to treat
that aspect of it like a qualifying run. But it’s a big deal because
it’s also the final round of the Epping national event. It was tough
to lose the momentum to not finish it in New England, but the fact is
we’re going to finish it at Bristol, they’re going to give a trophy to
someone and I sure hope it’s the PEAK Squad.”
Vandergriff wheels the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car and has
been on an impressive run. He earned his first NHRA win this season when
he won the NHRA Southern Nationals at NHRA’s debut at South Georgia
Motorsports Park and he also picked up his first career No. 1 qualifier
last weekend in Epping.
He’ll look for the biggest weekend of his young career in Bristol and
Vandergriff, who is third in points, also has a chance to move into the
points lead ahead of leader Ron Capps with a successful three days.
“I’m trying to keep my mind in race day mode this whole week,”
Vandergriff said. “We were left with a cliffhanger at the end of
Sunday. I thought about it Sunday night and I was like, ‘Well, I’m
going to have to hit the ground running on Friday and be ready to
race.’ So, I’m trying to really keep my mind in race mode. I
haven’t really allowed myself to think that Epping is over, so I’m
just staying ready for Friday night that way.”
This year’s annual visit to Thunder Valley combines the NHRA’s 75th
anniversary celebration with the 25th annual race at Bristol Dragway. It
is the ninth of 20 events during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing
Series season and will feature several highlights throughout the race
weekend:
* An appearance from NHRA fan-favorite Top Fuel driver Clay Millican
as well as NHRA legend Darrell Gwynn. Millican’s memorable 2017
Bristol win on Father’s Day weekend will be celebrated as the race’s
historic moment, a theme that will take place at all races in 2026.
* On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA pennant will be given to the
first 4,000 fans in attendance to take in eliminations.
In 2025, Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson
(Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in
Bristol. This season’s Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will
be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations starting at 3:00 p.m. ET on
Sunday, June 14.
The Top Fuel final from Epping will feature dominant points leader
Langdon and surging Pruett on Friday. Langdon has won three straight
races for Kalitta Motorsports, while Pruett is after her first win since
returning to the sport this year. Other marquee names to watch in the
Top Fuel ranks this year includes reigning world champion Doug Kalitta,
racing legend Tony Stewart, Gainesville winner Josh Hart, rookie
sensation Maddi Gordon, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Clay Millican.
Six-time world champ Anderson made history last season when he secured
his 1,000th round win en route to the win over Dallas Glenn, who is the
points leader and reigning champ. Erica Enders, Matt Hartford and Greg
Stanfield are after wins as well.
Gadson, the reigning world champ and points leader, hopes to repeat, but
will be challenged by Maryland winner Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and
Steve Johnson.
The event will also feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the
JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite
Motorsports and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown. After final
qualifying on Saturday, fans can attend a special autograph session at
the Bristol Dragway Welcome Tent in the midway.
Bristol race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that
introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track
Walk and congratulate the winners at the winner’s circle celebration
on Sunday. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and
sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can visit
NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an
exciting atmosphere.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds
at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12, and the final two rounds of
qualifying on Saturday, June 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations will
begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14. Television coverage includes
qualifying action at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday on
FS1, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, fans can visit
NHRA.com/tickets [1]. For more information on NHRA, please visit
NHRA.com [2].
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