{"id":105205,"date":"2026-11-12T16:44:05","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T16:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/funny-car-showdown-could-be-one-for-the-ages-at-in-n-out-burger-nhra-finals\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T16:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T16:44:05","slug":"funny-car-showdown-could-be-one-for-the-ages-at-in-n-out-burger-nhra-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/funny-car-showdown-could-be-one-for-the-ages-at-in-n-out-burger-nhra-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Funny Car Showdown Could Be One For the Ages at In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Funny Car has already treated NHRA fans to an unbelievable year filled with fierce competition, unbelievable performances and an impressive list of title contenders.<\/p>\n

Now, heading into this weekend\u2019s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona to close out the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, we\u2019re headed for what could be an epic showdown between three standout championship hopefuls.<\/p>\n

Matt Hagan takes the points lead into In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, holding a slim 39-point advantage over Jordan Vandergriff after the Funny Car newcomer put together a thrilling weekend en route to the win in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

J.R. Todd remains in contention at 104 points back and though he will need some help \u2013 and his second win in the Countdown to the Championship \u2013 there\u2019s all the makings of a thrilling finale in Pomona.<\/p>\n

That could suit Hagan just fine, as the veteran look to become just the second Funny Car driver in NHRA history to win a fifth world championship. Only the legendary John Force has done it thus far, but a good weekend in his 12,000-horsepower Dodge\/\/SRT Hellcat Funny Car would put Hagan in elite territory. That isn\u2019t lost on Hagan, who has four wins and seven final-round appearances in 2026, as he looks to finish off another stellar season in style.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, everybody\u2019s asking, \u2018How are your nerves? How are you feeling?\u2019 and all that kind of stuff. Honestly, I\u2019m pretty good. I think the biggest thing you have to realize is that you can\u2019t control everything. You can leave on time, keep it in the groove, but you just have to hope to see that win light come on,\u201d Hagan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur closest competitor, Jordan Vandergriff, that team had a great race in Vegas and we stubbed our toe a little bit, but we just have to have a great race in Pomona. The biggest thing you have to do is just enjoy the ride, show up and just go race.\u201d<\/p>\n

At last year\u2019s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were each crowned world champions at last year\u2019s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. This year\u2019s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 15.<\/p>\n

Vandergriff gave himself a puncher\u2019s chance going into Pomona, which is a points-and-a-half event. He\u2019s had a banner year in his debut Funny Car season, with the Vegas triumph giving the rising star his fourth victory in 2026 in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS for John Force Racing.<\/p>\n

If Vandergriff could get the gap under 30 points during qualifying, it would set up the chance for a winner-take-all scenario. As of now, Vandergriff needs to go two rounds further than Hagan to claim a world championship and finish out what would be a dream season in his first year in the Funny Car ranks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat fourth win was huge because we\u2019re 39 points back now, behind Hagan. Going into Vegas, it was a really, really long shot and it felt like we were far away. Now we can go to Pomona with a chance. All I wanted was a chance to drive these race cars. I\u2019ve got that chance and now I have this chance for a championship,\u201d Vandergriff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew coming into this year what they\u2019d done the last two years in this car (with Austin Prock winning back-to-back titles), the expectations were going to be high. I wanted those expectations to stay that way. I didn\u2019t want to come in and say, \u2018Oh, he\u2019s a rookie (Funny Car) driver.\u2019 I wanted to come into this race car with our new team, with (crew chiefs) Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, and all the new guys and say we\u2019re picking up right where they left off. I think being second going into Pomona is great. It\u2019s what I thought of at Gainesville test, and I didn\u2019t know if it was going to come true, but now that we\u2019re here, it\u2019s coming true.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good news for Hagan is Pomona has been one of his best tracks for several seasons. He\u2019s been a clutch driver throughout the years and he has a chance to sweep both races at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in 2026, winning the 1,000th Funny Car race earlier this year at the NHRA Winternationals.<\/p>\n

His eight wins at the legendary facility are second-most in Funny Car and the nitro ranks, which gives him confidence his Tony Stewart Racing team will come through when it matters most on Sunday in Pomona.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, we\u2019re here, we\u2019re racing and we\u2019ve got a shot. I think that\u2019s all you can really hope for: to just have a real shot at this championship. I sure do like our chances coming in leading,\u201d Hagan said. \u201cHeading into Pomona, we\u2019re going to have some fun, step on the gas and let it be what it\u2019s going to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cJordan is a good kid. I know he\u2019s fighting for his first one, and I\u2019m fighting for my fifth. When you put it in perspective, we\u2019re very blessed to be out here fighting for a fifth championship. At the end of the day, that\u2019s where my head is at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Top Fuel\u2019s Shawn Langdon will look to clinch his second career world title this weekend in Pomona. He has a 107-point lead over teammate Kalitta, as Langdon will look to close out the title in Pomona.<\/p>\n

Reigning Pro Stock champion Glenn is within reach of his second championship. Glenn has won the last two Countdown races and sits 87 points ahead of Matt Hartford in second. Greg Stanfield is 99 points back in third.<\/p>\n

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning champ Gadson and two-time champ Gaige Herrera are racing for two Diamond Wallys in Pomona as they will complete their delayed Las Vegas final and battle for this year\u2019s title. Gadson currently leads Herrera by 55 points.<\/p>\n

Race fans will also enjoy action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, along with the Summit Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout and the LASD Racing exhibition.<\/p>\n

Pomona race fans can also enjoy special pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, along with the SealMaster Track Walk. Another can\u2019t-miss experience is Sunday\u2019s winner\u2019s circle celebration, where fans are invited to congratulate the champs and event winners. As always, every ticket is a pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction. Fans can see their favorite teams in action, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit the midway for displays, merchandise, food and fun.<\/p>\n

In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 15. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, followed by eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

To purchase tickets to the 61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, fans can visit\u00a0www.NHRA.com\/tickets<\/a>. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit\u00a0www.NHRA.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on November 12, 2026. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post Funny Car Showdown Could Be One For the Ages at In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Funny Car has already treated NHRA fans to an unbelievable year filled with fierce competition, unbelievable performances and an impressive list of title contenders. Now, heading into this weekend\u2019s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona to close out the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, we\u2019re headed for what could be an epic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105205\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}