Jordan Vandergriff has interesting career path to take him to NHRA Nationals at Norwalk

Jordan Vandergriff is looking to pick up some hardware this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk. A Wally — the trophy awarded for winning an event — would be nice, as would the ice cream scoop given by Summit Motorsports Park … and maybe even a few roses? "I was a crew guy when Blake Alexander won (in Norwalk) in 2018," Vandergriff said. "So my first ever Wally as a crew member was here, but I myself have never driven here. I came here the last two years as an NHRA on Fox reporter, so I know about the prestige of this race. "I know how much the Norwalk and Ohio fans love drag racing and what a big spectacle the Bader family puts on at America's racetrack. And I know about the ice cream … I really want to get that ice cream scoop." Vandergriff grew up around the sport as his uncle Bob Vandergriff Jr. was a longtime driver in the Top Fuel Class, but his parents felt the sport was too dangerous so Jordan grew up playing other sports instead. When he turned 22, he decided he wanted to get behind the wheel and it was his uncle that gave him his first shot. "He had a team that was disbanding, he was in the process of selling it off, and I said, 'Hey, before we do this, maybe I could have a go at it,'" Jordan said. "He gave me the opportunity (in 2019) and it went great." Vandergriff raced a limited schedule, competing in 11 Top Fuel events while advancing to the semifinals three times and finishing as runner-up in Dallas. Then the pandemic hit, Vandergriff lost his sponsors and his uncle finally sold the team. While beginning a five-year fight to get back into the driver's seat, Vandergriff had to find something else to do with his time. He ended up appearing on the 19th season of "The Bachelorette" and then the ninth season of "Bachelor in Paradise." "I wasn't racing, I was sitting at home and I was a fan of the show growing up — I used to watch it with my mom — so I put the application in online and I got a call a few days later," Vandergriff said. "I got the Top Fuel dragster on the show on the first episode — I was showing Rachel, who was one of the bachelorettes at the time, the controls of the race car — and it was short-lived, but it was cool. "Then I went on Bachelor in Paradise and was just trying to find love and also broadcast our sport to the mainstream … so both were really cool experiences." Vandergriff then spent a couple years on the NHRA on Fox announce team as a pit reporter before a conversation with John Force started the process of him joining the team and racing in the Funny Car class. "Things were progressing and then there was some big news about how (Austin Prock) had left his Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car seat vacant and my phone rang," he said. "(Force) decided that I was the person he wanted to take over … so it's been a dream come true for me." Vandergriff, who also raced a few times in Top Fuel events during the 2025 season while filling in for injured friend Shawn Reed, reached the semifinals in Gainesville, earned a No. 1 qualifier and finished runner-up at the New England Nationals, won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Charlotte and captured his first career event championship at the Southern Nationals in Adel, Georgia, last month. Vandergriff comes into Norwalk fourth in the Funny Car points standings. "This season is something I've waited for for a very long time and I always imagined how my first year back would go and I think it has gone even better than I could have imagined," he said. "Getting my first career win in South Georgia a few weeks ago was just the culmination of everything I've worked for and strive for in this sport. I've gotten a little taste of victory now and I'm trying to figure out how I can get more. Hopefully, my second career win can happen this weekend in Norwalk." While winning another Wally will be Vandergriff's top priority over the next few days, he made it clear that nothing's changed since his days on reality TV. "I am still a bachelor, and I am looking for more roses," he said. "So if the Norwalk, Cleveland, Columbus — whatever area you live in — if you're coming to the race track this weekend, please come introduce yourself." Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on X. SCHEDULE Today 4-7 p.m. — Summit Racing Equipment driver meet and greet at Summit Racing Super Store in Tallmadge Thursday 8:30 a.m. — Sportsman time trials and qualifying Friday 8 a.m. — Sportsman eliminations 11:45 a.m. — Top Alcohol qualifying 12:30 p.m. — Factory Stock Showdown qualifying 1:30 p.m. — Midway opens 2:30 p.m. — Top Alcohol qualifying 3 p.m. — GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout 3:30 p.m. — Factory Stock Showdown qualifying 3:45 p.m. — Summit JDRL National Shootout qualifying 4 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying 5 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying 6 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying 7 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying 7:30 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying 8:30 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks Saturday 8 a.m. — Sportsman eliminations 8 a.m. — Midway opens 9:30 a.m. — Top Alcohol qualifying 10:30 a.m. — Factory Stock Showdown qualifying 10:45 a.m. — Summit JDRL National Shootout qualifying 11 a.m. — Pro Mod qualifying 11:25 a.m. — GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout opening ceremonies 11:30 a.m. — GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout Round 1 Noon — Top Fuel qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Round 1 12:40 p.m. — Funny Car qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Round 1 1:15 p.m. — Pro Stock qualifying and GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout Round 2 1:40 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Round 1 2 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying 2:30 p.m. — Top Fuel qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge finals 3:10 p.m. — Funny Car qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge finals 3:40 p.m. — Pro Stock qualifying 4 p.m. — GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout finals 4:05 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge finals 4:25 p.m. — Summit JDRL National Shootout eliminations 4:30 p.m. — Top Alcohol eliminations 5:15 p.m. — Factory Stock Showdown eliminations 5:30 p.m. — Sportsman eliminations Sunday 9 a.m. — Midway opens 9:45 a.m. — SealMaster track walk and driver introductions 11 a.m. — Mission Foods Series eliminations