Vandergriff Scores First Funny Car Win, Honors Family Tradition

Vandergriff Scores First Funny Car Win MARC GEWERTZ Shortly after confirming his first Funny Car win in the NHRA Southern Nationals, Jordan Vandergriff jumped from his car and began running down the track toward the starting line, recreating the victory celebration his uncle Bob Vandergriff Jr. executed every time he won a Top Fuel event. While the theme music from the movie “Chariots of Fire” blared over the public address system, the Fox Sports crew raced after him, John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman ran towards him, and his uncle intercepted him.

The moment at South Georgia Motorsports Park was one the 31-year-old Atlanta resident had envisioned for years. “My uncle did it out of pure joy,” Vandergriff said about the celebration. “I was contemplating it in the car before the run, and I was like, if I get on the radio and they tell me I won, I’m doing it no matter what.

It was just awesome! ” Vandergriff said when he was halfway up the return road he thought, “this is what I trained my whole life for. ” “I work out all the time.

I do it to stay fit and then I realized in that moment, as I was running up, I think that’s why I’ve always done that,” Vandergriff said. “I felt good running up, but it’s a little bit longer than you expect. I won’t do it again.