Funny Car class newcomer Jordan Vandergriff notched his 2nd career victory of the season – driving for John Force Racing during NHRA’s Denso-presented Sonoma Nationals.

Vandergriff went 3.900-seconds at 330.72 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to power past Dan Wilkerson’s 3.950 at 301.33 in the championship round, getting his second career victory and first at Sonoma Raceway.
 
The Brea, Calif. native defeated Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan and reigning world champion Austin Prock in a thrilling side-by-side duel to reach the final round, finishing off a near-flawless weekend with another stellar performance in the final round.
 
The team made wholesale changes after Norwalk and it worked like a charm one race later, as Vandergriff was the quickest car the last three qualifying rounds. He qualified No. 1 and then was remarkably consistent in eliminations, including a Sunday-best run of 3.891 at 328.46. That continued all day, as the rising star moved up three spots to second in points with the victory.

“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 advanced to his second final this year and fourth in his career thanks to round wins against Hunter Green, Spencer Hyde and Jack Beckman. Ron Capps remains in the points lead, but it stands at just 74 points over Vandergriff after a first-round defeat to Prock on Sunday.

Ron Capps was a winner at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge part of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge.

That final was a wild one, as Capps skated past Jack Beckman in the final round with a run of 4.429 at 225.03 in his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra.

Both Capps and Beckman ran into trouble late in the run, but Capps pedaled it and slipped past his former teammate in an enjoyable duel for the fans.

It is Capps’ first victory of the season in the bonus race program this season. In round #1 he had defeated JFR team member Alexis DeJoria running a 3.941 secs 329.26 mph.

NHRA Denso Sonoma Nationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Jordan Vandergriff – 3.900 secs 330.72 mph (Career win #2)
R/UP: Dan Wilkerson – 3.950 secs 301.33 mph
Low ET: Jordan Vandergriff – 3.849 secs
Top MPH: Matt Hagan – 333.74 mph
Bump: 4.048
Entries: 18

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

Photos courtesy of NHRA