The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series has reached its halfway point, and few organizations have more momentum than John Force Racing.
From rookie sensation Jordan Vandergriff emerging as a championship contender, to Jack Beckman’s return to the winner’s circle, Alexis DeJoria’s career resurgence, and Josh Hart’s continued growth in Top Fuel competition, the legendary organization enters this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park positioned to make a serious second-half push.
Jordan Vandergriff Continues Impressive Rookie Campaign
If there was any question about whether Jordan Vandergriff could successfully transition from NHRA on FOX reporter and occasional fill-in driver to full-time Funny Car racer, he has answered it emphatically.
Through nine races, the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car sits fourth in points and remains within striking distance of the championship lead.
“It’s pretty crazy to be entering the halfway point of my rookie year in Funny Car with John Force Racing and Cornwell Quality Tools,” Vandergriff said. “It feels like it’s flown by, and I think we’ve done really well. Being a brand new team, with a brand new crew chief duo of Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, a whole new team, and me as a rookie driver to be fourth in the points within striking distance of first, is better than we all expected. If we can keep this up, we’re going to have a shot at the championship.”
The Atlanta native knows exactly who he’s chasing.
“We find ourselves fourth in the points with a completely new team, and we’re only behind J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan, and Ron Capps. Those are three big names that have won championships and know what they’re doing,” Vandergriff said. “Being the new guy, it’s an honor to be mentioned that high up with them.”
Norwalk also serves as a home race of sorts for primary sponsor Cornwell Tools, whose headquarters sits just an hour away.
“Cornwell Quality Tools is based in Wadsworth, Ohio, only about an hour from Norwalk, so it’s like their home race,” Vandergriff said. “There’s a little added pressure, but I love the pressure.”
Beckman Finds His Winning Formula Again
While Vandergriff continues to exceed expectations, Jack Beckman enters Norwalk with a renewed sense of confidence after finally collecting his first victory of the season.
The PEAK Chevrolet team captured the rain-delayed New England Nationals Funny Car title at Bristol, validating months of work spent chasing consistency.
“I think it’s a fair statement to say we struggled more than we thought we were going to,” Beckman admitted. “Even though we qualified No. 1 at Chicago, we still didn’t have our consistency, and then Tim and Dan (crew chiefs Fabrisi and Hood) found something in the clutch.”
That discovery appears to have transformed the team.
“Since that time, I think we pretty well buttoned up what the issue was with our PEAK Chevy SS,” Beckman said.
The results speak for themselves. Beckman has qualified first, first, second, and third over the last four events while consistently fielding one of the quickest Funny Cars in NHRA competition.
“We qualified first, first, second, and third the past four races. Nobody’s looked as good as us in qualifying,” Beckman said.
As the Countdown approaches, Beckman knows every decision now is made with championship implications in mind.
“We have a strategy to win the world championship,” Beckman said. “The tactics you employ to do that is win races and put yourself in it in a good position points-wise.”
Alexis DeJoria Feels A Breakthrough Coming
One of the biggest success stories inside the John Force Racing camp has been Alexis DeJoria.
In her first season with the organization, DeJoria has already advanced to two final rounds, earned a Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory, and posted more round wins through nine races than she recorded during all of last season.
“The first half of the season for the Bandero Café Chevy Funny Car team has been good,” DeJoria said. “We’ve made a few final rounds, had some Top 5 qualifying positions, and earned a Mission Foods ‘Too Fast Too Tasty’ Challenge win in Chicago.”
While the team is still searching for its first victory together, DeJoria believes it’s only a matter of time.
“My John Force Racing teammates have all completed the task at hand and made it to the winner’s circle, so that’s all we’re missing now, and I can just feel it happening every time we go to the racetrack.”
Currently seventh in the standings, DeJoria remains focused on moving forward before the Countdown reset.
“I definitely pay attention to points standings,” she said. “It’s important to stay in the Top 5 in the first half of the regular season, and there’s just six more races before we start the Countdown, so we’re focused on moving up.”
Josh Hart Focused On Climbing The Top Fuel Ladder
On the Top Fuel side, Josh Hart continues adapting to life with John Force Racing while pursuing his second victory of the season.
The Speedmaster team started 2026 in spectacular fashion by winning the season-opening Gatornationals, but Hart believes there is still much more performance left to unlock.
“I would say we’re learning more and more every day,” Hart said. “We’re not where we want to be, but I think everybody knows that. We expect to qualify in the Top 5 in every race, no matter what. We expect to win every race, and we’ve struggled the last couple. Now it’s time to get serious.”
Unlike some drivers who avoid discussing the standings, Hart fully embraces the championship conversation.
“Yes, absolutely. You can say what you want, but everybody’s paying attention,” Hart said. “There is still a regular-season championship to win. We want to claw our way to at least the No. 3 spot.”
Hart also has unfinished business at Summit Motorsports Park, where a rain-delayed final-round loss in 2022 remains fresh in his memory.
As NHRA’s regular season enters its final stretch, John Force Racing appears poised for a serious championship run across multiple categories. Vandergriff continues to impress as a rookie. Beckman has rediscovered his championship-caliber form. DeJoria is knocking on the door of victory lane. Hart remains focused on climbing the Top Fuel ladder.
Norwalk has long been one of the sport’s marquee events, and this year it arrives at a critical moment. With the Countdown looming and championship positions beginning to solidify, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals could play a major role in determining how the second half of the season unfolds.
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