The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to one of its most iconic venues this weekend, and John Force Racing enters the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with momentum building across all four of its professional teams.
From Jordan Vandergriff’s chance to claim two trophies in a single weekend, to Jack Beckman’s pursuit of unfinished business, Alexis DeJoria’s return to one of her most successful tracks, and Josh Hart’s determination to reignite his championship campaign, the organization is poised to play a major role in Bristol Dragway’s first race on its newly resurfaced racing surface.
Jordan Vandergriff Faces Massive Bristol Opportunity In Cornwell Tools Funny Car
Jordan Vandergriff may be a rookie in NHRA Funny Car, but his weekend at Bristol Dragway has the kind of storyline even veteran racers dream about.
The John Force Racing driver heads into the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with three major opportunities on the table. First, Vandergriff will race teammate Jack Beckman in the postponed NHRA New England Nationals Funny Car final during Friday qualifying. Then, he will compete in Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Finally, he will try to win the Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday.
Vandergriff Gets Another Shot At A Diamond Wally
Rain washed out the Funny Car final last weekend at New England Dragway, setting up an all-John Force Racing showdown under the lights at Bristol. Vandergriff will face Beckman during Friday evening qualifying, with his second national event victory of the season on the line.
A win would add another Diamond Wally to Vandergriff’s collection after his breakthrough Funny Car victory at South Georgia Motorsports Park in May. It would also move him to second in the NHRA Funny Car point standings, a huge achievement for a first-year Funny Car driver.
The delayed final has kept Vandergriff mentally locked in all week.
“I’m trying to keep my mind in race day mode this whole week. 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.
Bristol Dragway Presents Another New Challenge
Bristol Dragway is another first-time experience for Vandergriff, but the playing field may be closer than usual thanks to the track’s fresh racing surface.
The iconic Thunder Valley facility recently received a repave, meaning even veteran teams will enter the weekend with new data to collect. For Vandergriff, that creates another opportunity similar to the new-track situations where the Cornwell Tools team has already shown strength this season.
“I’ve always thought Bristol is a beautiful facility and I’ve always wanted to race in Thunder Valley in the trees. It’s one of the places on the schedule you have to experience. I’ve heard the old racing surface was a little bumpy here and there but I saw some pictures of the repave and wow, it looks beautiful. It levels the playing field for everybody. It’s a new track for me but also new surface for everyone in the series. And, based on our last two efforts on new racetracks for me, in Georgia (win) and Maryland (semifinals), we have had decent success. If we can hit the ground running in Q1 at Bristol and lay down a solid lap, I think, I think we’ll be set up for the weekend.”
Cornwell Tools Team Building A Strong Rookie Campaign
Vandergriff’s first Funny Car season has already included a national event win, multiple late-round appearances, and steady growth inside the John Force Racing organization.
The Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker-led Cornwell Tools team has shown it can adapt quickly, especially at facilities where prior data is limited. That adaptability could become critical at Bristol, where the new surface will demand fast decisions from every crew chief on the property.
Alexis DeJoria Returns To Bristol Looking To Build On Winning History And 2026 Momentum
Some racetracks just seem to fit certain drivers and Bristol Dragway has long been one of those places for Alexis DeJoria,.
The John Force Racing driver hopes the combination of a newly resurfaced track and a steadily improving Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car program can produce another memorable weekend in Thunder Valley.
A Track Filled With Career Milestones
Few tracks on the NHRA schedule hold as much significance for DeJoria as Bristol Dragway.
Her connection to the facility stretches back more than a decade, beginning with her first career Funny Car final-round appearance in 2012 while driving for Kalitta Motorsports alongside crew chief Del Worsham. Since then, Bristol has continued to deliver some of the biggest moments of her career.
“The very first final round I went to was in 2012 with Del Worsham and Kalita Motorsports. Man, we did really good there,” DeJoria said.
The relationship reached another high point in 2021 when DeJoria captured what remains her most recent NHRA national event victory. That triumph carried extra meaning because it came with her own team and completed a journey that began nearly a decade earlier.
“The 2023 runner-up was a big deal but winning it in 2021 with Dell was so special. We had our own team together and that win just completed everything. It was a full circle moment from 2012. We qualified No. 1 and then getting the win stands out as one of my favorites, for sure. I mean, my gosh, I had like a .002 light in the final and got to race my old teammate from Kalitta (J.R. Todd) so that was pretty cool. I am really looking forward to this weekend.”
New Surface Creates New Opportunities
One of the biggest storylines entering this year’s Thunder Valley Nationals is Bristol Dragway’s freshly resurfaced racing surface.
Historically, Thunder Valley has presented unique tuning challenges, with track conditions sometimes favoring one lane over the other. The repave promises a fresh start for teams and could dramatically change the way races unfold throughout the weekend.
DeJoria sees the changes as a positive development.
“The new racing surface at Bristol is going to be really cool. I know in the past it’s come down to a one-lane race track at times so this will be a nice change. It levels the playing field for all of us. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Thunder Valley Remains One Of NHRA’s Crown Jewels
Ask any NHRA driver about Bristol Dragway and you’ll hear similar descriptions: unique, intimidating, beautiful, and unforgettable. Those characteristics are a big reason why Thunder Valley remains one of DeJoria’s favorite destinations on the tour.
“Bristol is just one of those tracks where I’ve had success in the past and really love going back to. Just the sound of it, the look, all the fans, it’s absolutely beautiful.”
As the 2026 season enters a critical stretch, the timing may be perfect for DeJoria and her Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team.
A victory this weekend would not only mark her first win under the John Force Racing banner, but it would also bring her back to the winner’s circle at one of the tracks that has defined so many important chapters of her Funny Car career.
Jack Beckman Has Rare Chance To Win Two NHRA Funny Car Events In One Bristol Weekend
Opportunities like this don’t come around often in NHRA drag racing.
When Jack Beckman rolls his PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car to the starting line at Bristol Dragway this weekend, he’ll have a chance to accomplish something few drivers ever get the opportunity to do: win two national events in the same race weekend.
The veteran Funny Car driver enters the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with unfinished business from New England Dragway after rain postponed last Sunday’s Funny Car final round. Now, Beckman and John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff will settle the NHRA New England Nationals championship during Friday qualifying at Bristol.
Unfinished Business From Epping
The PEAK Squad was one round away from victory at New England Dragway when Mother Nature intervened.
After a strong performance throughout eliminations, Beckman advanced to the Funny Car final against Vandergriff before rain forced NHRA officials to postpone the championship round until Bristol. The result has left both drivers in an unusual situation: carrying race-day intensity across nearly an entire week.
For Beckman, the approach is simple.
“From what I understand, it’s going to be Q2 Friday. I’m not a philosopher, but I have certainly come to embrace the philosophy that you can control the things you can and don’t worry about the things you can’t,” Beckman said.
The challenge becomes even more unique because the delayed final will also count as a qualifying run for the Thunder Valley Nationals.
“So, if it’s Q2, that will be the night run, the hero shot. I’ve always raced smart, which means you qualify shallow. It gives you a worse looking reaction time because you have to move further until it stops your reaction time, but it gives you the best possible elapsed 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 gonna treat that aspect of it like a qualifying run.”
It’s a balancing act few drivers have ever faced — racing for a national event victory while simultaneously trying to secure a top qualifying position for another race.
The PEAK Squad Is Finding Its Form
The timing couldn’t be better for Beckman and his team.
After battling inconsistency during the opening portion of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the PEAK Squad has shown signs of returning to championship-caliber form. Beckman entered the New England Nationals fresh off a runner-up finish at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals and continued that momentum in Epping.
Now, the veteran driver believes the team has an opportunity to capitalize on its recent performance gains.
“It was tough to lose the momentum to not finish it in New England, if for no other reason than all those New England fans deserve to see that final. But the fact is we’re gonna finish it at Bristol, they’re going to give a trophy to someone, and I sure hope it’s the PEAK SQUAD.”
A victory over Vandergriff would not only deliver Beckman’s first national event win of the season but also provide another confidence boost for a team that appears to be peaking at exactly the right time.
Bristol’s New Surface Levels The Playing Field
One of the biggest storylines entering the Thunder Valley Nationals is Bristol Dragway’s freshly repaved racing surface.
The historic facility has long been known for its unique character, including challenging sections of racing surface that often demanded extra attention from drivers and crew chiefs. The new surface changes that dynamic considerably.
“It had two big dips in it and was very hard to navigate,” Beckman explained. “Our initial scouting after they repaved it is it’s fantastic so I’m happy to hear that it sounds like we’re gonna have a level playing field.”
While the smooth surface creates opportunities, it also introduces uncertainty.
“Anytime they repave a racetrack, the upside is the new surface. The downside is there’s no rubber on it, so it will be a very green racetrack. Typically, when you have a situation like that, the track gets a little bit better every day with the multitude of cars going down it.”
That evolving surface condition could play a major role in determining who leaves Bristol with trophies.
A Battle Between Teammates
Friday night’s delayed New England Nationals final also highlights the strength of the John Force Racing Funny Car program.
Beckman and Vandergriff have both demonstrated race-winning speed throughout the season, and both drivers arrive in Bristol carrying momentum. The matchup pits experience against youthful confidence, with a Diamond Wally hanging in the balance.
Beckman knows neither driver can afford mistakes.
“We’re not gonna have that luxury in running the final round from Epping. Hopefully, we’re going to run a final round there for the Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday night after three days of cars going down there. But we’re going to run a final round of the Effing race on Friday night where not many cars have gone down there. So, it really is just going to be whichever team does a better job overall. Jordan and I have to be on our games and the fastest horse is gonna win.”
Beyond Friday’s championship showdown, Beckman’s weekend remains packed with opportunity.
The PEAK Squad will also compete in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge after earning a semifinal berth in New England. Then comes Sunday’s Thunder Valley Nationals eliminations, where Beckman hopes to finally add a Bristol Wally to a résumé that already includes championships, victories, and one of the most respected careers in Funny Car racing.
Josh Hart Looking For A Fresh Start At Bristol’s Thunder Valley Nationals
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season began exactly how Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team envisioned it. Since then, however, the team has been chasing the same magic that delivered a season-opening victory and a spot atop the standings.
This weekend’s Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway presents another opportunity to get back on track, and Hart believes the timing couldn’t be better.
With a freshly resurfaced racing surface, a motivated team, and valuable momentum-building opportunities ahead, the John Force Racing-backed Speedmaster operation is viewing Bristol as more than just another race. It could be the launching point for a second-half surge.
Bristol’s New Surface Changes Everything
One of the biggest storylines surrounding this year’s Thunder Valley Nationals is Bristol Dragway’s newly resurfaced racing surface.
The legendary Tennessee facility has long been known for its breathtaking setting and passionate fans, but it also presented unique challenges for drivers and teams over the years.
Hart remembers those challenges all too well.
“There was a bump over the tunnel that cost everyone a ton of money,” said Hart. “Frequently, if the dragsters got air during the run, it would rev up and pop the blower. I’m very happy Bristol Dragway made the investment so we don’t have to.”
The new racing surface is expected to provide a smoother and more consistent track, potentially opening the door for quicker elapsed times and faster speeds throughout the weekend.
For crew chiefs Dave Grubnic and John Collins, the fresh surface also creates an opportunity to maximize the performance of a Speedmaster dragster that has shown race-winning potential all season.
Using Frustration As Fuel
While the team remains optimistic, Hart isn’t hiding his disappointment from last weekend’s New England Nationals.
The veteran racer takes pride in his performance behind the wheel, and a rare holeshot defeat left a lasting impression.
“I was not happy when I left New England Dragway last week because it was the first time I’d been beaten on a holeshot since Gainesville 2023,” Hart said. “It’s definitely added fuel for the fire going into this week’s racing in Bristol and I will do better.”
That competitive mindset has been one of Hart’s defining traits throughout his racing career. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, he uses them as motivation.
As the NHRA schedule moves deeper into the summer months, every round win becomes increasingly important. The Thunder Valley Nationals represent a chance for teams to establish momentum heading into one of the busiest portions of the season. Hart and his team are ready to create their own momentum and make a championship push in Top Fuel.
You might also like
Ron Capps Returns To Thunder Valley As A Legend While Maddi Gordon Prepares For Bristol Debut
Ron Capps wants to tighten his Funny Car points lead at Bristol. Maddi Gordon is ready for her first Bristol nitro experience.
