NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

“Did you see that run,” asked Jordan Vandergriff, pointing at a timeslip that read 3.738 seconds at 325.14 mph.

Career best?
 
“Oh yeah, by a ton,” he replied, in a tone suggesting the excitement that probably should come from someone just getting his feet wet in a class that regularly takes you more than 300 mph. The nephew of team owner Bob Vandergriff knows at this point his licensing runs have likely been completed, but that’s not why he’s excited. 

“The funny thing is we’re not even looking at this as trying to get my licensed – we’re just trying to get better for the year, you know? If we do that, the licensing is just going to happen,” he said. “Like, I’m pretty sure I’m just going to get my license based on the run I just made. So, we’re going to make another run today and three more Friday and then we’ll see what we do on Saturday.”

His best run of all time came in an unwrapped car. He eventually made another strong run Friday in a DA Lubricants-wrapped machine. It’s white and blue – clean, but unassuming. It matches the driver in many respects. Vandergriff isn’t flashy like Tanner Gray or covered in tattoos like Jonnie Lindberg, so in a way he makes a statement in a different way. Not good, not bad – just Jordan. 

Perhaps the best impression he gives off is how well he fits in with the rest of the crew. That was evident in 2018 when Blake Alexander was the sole driver for Bob Vandergriff Racing. Vandergriff worked on the car then and still does now – just like fellow driver Shawn Reed. The Lake Tapps, Wash. native (that’s Reed) walked into the driver’s lounge and showed off his dirty hands, a sign that, yes, he’s doing his part on the car. Vandergriff showed off his palms in the way.

He’s not just the driver, he’s part of the team. That’s something impressed upon him from his uncle, Bob. 

“I lean on my uncle for everything, with any question I have,” said Jordan. “If I have a question, he’s the perfect outlet for it. He’s never afraid to share his opinion on anything, no matter what it is. I’m going to be the same way, I go to him for everything and I know that I couldn’t do this without him.” 

Vandergriff will compete in 12 races this season, beginning at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals (no pressure). That rules out a chance at a championship, but it certainly doesn’t rule out an opportunity to win the Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award that goes to the top rookie of the year. Still, he has career aspirations. 

“I’d like to say I want to be Tony Schumacher, but it’s hard to do that on a part-time schedule,” said Vandergriff. “So, I guess I want to run a full-time schedule and eventually win a championship like Steve Torrence did. That would be huge for an independent team. I think it’s good for the sport when you take down the big teams like John Force Racing and Don Schumacher Racing. I guess it’s just going out here and having a long, healthy career.”

He's off to a fine start.