PEAK Motorsports Update- September 28, 2026

NHRA: NHRA Nationals at The Rock

Rockignham, NC

Monday, September 28, 2026: 

The return to The Rock didn’t play out for the John Force Racing teams as they had prepared and planned for heading into the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway.
 
Jordan Vandergriff and Alexis DeJoria bowed out in Round 2 while Jack Beckman and Josh Hart exited in Round 1.

Vandergriff set low elapsed time of the session in his first-round matchup against Chad Green, running 3.869 seconds at 331.61 mph to Green’s 3.912 seconds at 330.64 mph. The run gave Vandergriff lane choice in the second round against Austin Prock. In Round 2, Vandergriff ran a quicker 3.905 seconds at 329.19 mph to Prock’s 3.916 seconds at 322.81 mph but Prock grabbed the holeshot (0.030 to 0.042) to win by an almost inconceivable two ten-thousandths of a second.

Alexis DeJoria, number two qualifier in Funny Car, put out a cylinder early in her Round 1 matchup against John Smith but still ran 3.959 seconds at 318.92 mph to Smith’s 4.429 seconds at 209.79 mph and moved on. In Round 2 against Paul Lee, the win went to Lee’s reaction time (0.026 to 0.040) as both drivers ran identical 3.924-second laps at 328.95 mph.

Jack Beckman, number four qualifier in Funny Car, made a strong 3.916-second run at 324.44 mph but Daniel Wilkerson grabbed the holeshot (0.026 to 0.047) to earn the win with a run of 3.931 seconds at 327.27 mph.

Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel dragster had lane choice for Round 1 against Will Smith but put a cylinder out very early in the run, clocking in at 3.829 seconds at 320.74 mph to Smith’s run of 3.767 seconds at 330.88 mph.

 2026 NHRA Point Standings

TOP FUEL
1. Shawn Langdon, 2,335

2. Doug Kalitta, 2,310

3. Tony Stewart, 2,180

4. Leah Pruett, 2,168

5. Antron Brown, 2,148

6. Billy Torrence, 2,13

7. (tie) Maddi Gordon, 2,128

Josh Hart, 2,128

9. Will Smith, 2,118

10. Clay Millican, 2,088
 
FUNNY CAR
1. Matt Hagan, 2,321

2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,237

3. J.R. Todd, 2,215

4. Ron Capps, 2,209

5. Jack Beckman, 2,195

6. Austin Prock, 2,177

7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,151

8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,120

9. Chad Green, 2,089

10. Spencer Hyde, 2,065

The 17th of 20 races on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is October 2-4th NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois (St. Louis).