Jordan Vandergriff continues to prove that his rookie season is no fluke.
The John Force Racing standout put together the most complete weekend of his young Funny Car career, driving to his second victory of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge. In front of three straight days of sellout crowds at Sonoma Raceway, Vandergriff led a list of winners that also included Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta and Pro Stock standout Greg Stanfield.
The victory vaults Vandergriff into the thick of the Funny Car championship battle as the second half of the season begins, while Kalitta continued his historic dominance in Northern California and Stanfield extended Elite Motorsports’ remarkable winning streak at Sonoma.
Jordan Vandergriff Delivers A Breakthrough Weekend
Vandergriff and his team dominated at Sonoma.
The Brea, California, native qualified No. 1 after his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car was the quickest machine during the final three qualifying sessions. On race day, the John Force Racing team backed it up with a string of consistent passes, including a blistering 3.891-second run that stood as Sunday’s quickest elapsed time.
After defeating Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan, and reigning Funny Car champion Austin Prock in eliminations, Vandergriff capped off his weekend by knocking off Daniel Wilkerson in the final with a 3.900-second pass at 330.72 mph.
The win was Vandergriff’s second career Funny Car victory and immediately rewarded the major setup changes the team made following the previous race in Norwalk.
“My team behind me had the car running so well and so and smooth at this race,” Vandergriff said. “Today was one of those days where I got up there, and I knew I was going to go straight and tried and true. Heading into this final round, I knew that we had the car.”
“Getting my second win, it means a lot because after my first win, I remember sitting home, on the couch, looking at the Wally, and I’m thinking, ‘You know, how do I get a second one?’ The first one felt like such a whirlwind, and a dream come true. This is my job. My job is to come to John Force Racing and win Wallys for Cornwall Quality Tools. Now I’m going to go home and look at two Wallys and ask myself how to get a third.”
Wilkerson reached his second final round of the season after defeating Hunter Green, Spencer Hyde, and Jack Beckman. Despite a first-round exit, Ron Capps maintained the Funny Car points lead, although Vandergriff trimmed the margin to just 74 points.
Doug Kalitta Continues His Sonoma Masterclass
If there’s one place Doug Kalitta seems nearly unbeatable, it’s Sonoma Raceway.
The reigning Top Fuel world champion added another chapter to his remarkable history at the facility, defeating Jasmine Salinas in the final round with a 3.731-second pass at 339.36 mph in the Aflac dragster.
The victory marked Kalitta’s second straight Sonoma win and his seventh career Top Fuel victory at the California track, the most by any Top Fuel driver in Sonoma Raceway history.
Kalitta was dominant throughout the weekend. He qualified No. 1, earned the Deecell After Dark Low Qualifier award, then eliminated Clay Millican and Antron Brown before denying Salinas her first career NHRA victory.
Although Salinas left first with an impressive .056 reaction time, Kalitta quickly drove around her as she posted a 3.815-second run.
The victory was Kalitta’s 61st career NHRA win and pulled him within 85 points of teammate Shawn Langdon in the championship standings.
“This is a very special place for me. We had a little dry spell through the years, but I’m glad that we managed to get the last two wins here,” Kalitta said.
“It’s been 30 years since, unfortunately, we lost Blaine Johnson, and I’m going to have the honor of giving this trophy to Alan [Johnson, crew chief] this evening once we get done with this. It’s very deserving with everything he’s put into this sport. Blaine was a hell of a driver, so this is going to be an honor. This is the time of the year where it gets really fun because we’re all battling for points. We’re still quite a ways behind Shawn (Langdon), but we’ve got enough time to do it.”
Salinas enjoyed the best weekend of her Top Fuel career, defeating Josh Hart, points leader Shawn Langdon, and Leah Pruett to reach her first NHRA final round.
Greg Stanfield Keeps Elite Motorsports Perfect In Sonoma
Greg Stanfield has clearly found something special at Sonoma Raceway.
One year after defeating his son Aaron in the final round, Stanfield returned to the winner’s circle by scoring another victory, this time defeating Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders on a razor-close holeshot.
Stanfield’s Janac Brothers Racing Camaro posted a 6.551-second pass at 211.30 mph, overcoming Enders’ slightly quicker 6.550-second run thanks to a stellar .015 reaction time.
The victory was Stanfield’s seventh career professional win, his second consecutive Sonoma triumph, and continued Elite Motorsports’ incredible streak of five straight Pro Stock victories at Sonoma Raceway.
The road to victory wasn’t easy.
Stanfield eliminated Aaron Stanfield, Mason McGaha, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. before facing Enders in an all-Elite Motorsports final. The organization also showcased its depth by placing all four of its Pro Stock entries in the semifinal round.
“I’m not sure why I do so well here. It must be the wine. It’s a great place with great fans, and I just feel really comfortable here,” Stanfield said. “The Elite cars are fast right now. I’m just proud, excited, and thankful to be driving for them.
“The racing is so tight today, so the driving part of it’s really critical. Today was obviously a good day. When I race, I really don’t look at who’s in the other lane. I just try to focus on my side and what I can do, and try to do the best I can.
“On Saturday, I just looked at the ladder and thought, ‘Oh, boy, this ain’t good’. I just try to do my part to not let everybody down. I won the first round due to pure luck against Aaron, because I should have been beaten right there. That was my mulligan of the day.”
Enders advanced to her first final round of the 2026 season by defeating Kenny Delco, Matt Latino and Troy Coughlin Jr. Despite an early exit, Dallas Glenn maintained the Pro Stock points lead, holding a slim 21-point advantage over KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson.
With Sonoma complete, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series now shifts north to Pacific Raceways for the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals.
Vandergriff’s victory significantly tightened the Funny Car championship race, Kalitta gained valuable ground on teammate Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, and Stanfield continued to strengthen Elite Motorsports’ position as the team to beat in Pro Stock.
As the Countdown to the Championship draws closer, every round win is becoming increasingly valuable, and Sonoma proved once again that momentum can change quickly in the NHRA’s professional categories.
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.731 seconds, 339.96 mph def. Jasmine Salinas, 3.815 seconds, 319.14 mph.
Funny Car — Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.900, 330.72 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.950, 301.33.
Pro Stock — Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.551, 211.30 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.550, 210.87.
Competition Eliminator — Clint Neff, Dragster, 7.639, 172.43 def. Steve Graham, Chevy Camaro, 6.996, 197.10.
Super Stock — Jody Lang, Chevy Malibu, 10.883, 115.57 def. Brad Burton, Pontiac Firebird, 9.363, 136.68.
Stock Eliminator — Justin Lamb, Chevy Camaro, 9.312, 139.44 def. Darin Grossi, Plymouth Fury, 10.202, 128.84.
Super Comp — Trey Vetter, Dragster, 8.911, 174.91 def. Grant Williamson, Dragster, 8.913, 168.35.
Super Gas — Doug Sedmak, Chevy Corvette, 9.914, 156.79 def. Brad Pierce, Corvette, 9.906, 139.69.
Top Sportsman — Ken Ratzloff, Studebaker, 6.861, 200.41 def. Bryan Warr, Chevy Camaro, 6.718, 203.98.
Top Dragster — Keith Winters, Dragster, 6.313, 214.66 def. Thomas Bayer, Dragster, 6.182, 226.89.
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