Vandergriff Scores First Funny Car Win, Honors Family Tradition

Vandergriff Scores First Funny Car WinMARC GEWERTZ

Shortly after confirming his first Funny Car win in the NHRA Southern Nationals, Jordan Vandergriff jumped from his car and began running down the track toward the starting line, recreating the victory celebration his uncle Bob Vandergriff Jr. executed every time he won a Top Fuel event.

While the theme music from the movie “Chariots of Fire” blared over the public address system, the Fox Sports crew raced after him, John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman ran towards him, and his uncle intercepted him. The moment at South Georgia Motorsports Park was one the 31-year-old Atlanta resident had envisioned for years.

“My uncle did it out of pure joy,” Vandergriff said about the celebration. “I was contemplating it in the car before the run, and I was like, if I get on the radio and they tell me I won, I’m doing it no matter what. It was just awesome!”

Vandergriff said when he was halfway up the return road he thought, “this is what I trained my whole life for.”

“I work out all the time. I do it to stay fit and then I realized in that moment, as I was running up, I think that’s why I’ve always done that,” Vandergriff said. “I felt good running up, but it’s a little bit longer than you expect. I won’t do it again.”

Vandergriff was surprised when he saw his uncle.

“I was running and I was just like, I’m gonna make it as far as I can, and when I saw my uncle kind of over the wall, it was a surreal moment,” Vandergriff said. “I thought, this is a perfect way to cap this win, to do it with him. I owe a lot to him as well. He gave me an opportunity to be in this position. I owe a lot to John Force for believing in me.”

Vandergriff qualified third and met Jeff Arend in the first round. He defeated Arend with a 3.950 e.t., 330.63 mph. Next up was Spencer Hyde. Vandergriff took the quarterfinal round with a 3.956 e.t., 332.34 mph. He dispensed with Hunter Green in the semifinals, posting a 3.964 e.t., 331.36 mph. However, it was when he took out No. 1 qualifier J.R. Todd, who had dominated the weekend, that he elated the sold-out crowd. In the first meeting between the two drivers in eliminations, Todd possessed the starting line advantage, but then his car started to lose traction and he clicked it off. Vandergriff never wavered, recording a 4.007 e.t., 314.17 mph.