Shawn Reed Racing Post-Race Recap: Indianapolis

NHRA U.S. Nationals

Event 14 of 20

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Indianapolis

Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, 2025

Shawn Reed Racing Solidifies Top 10 Ranking Heading into NHRA Countdown

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 1, 2025) – Aboard the Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel dragster, Shawn Reed Racing fill-in driver Jordan Vandergriff made a string of impressive runs throughout the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the sport’s premier event, but a puff of tire smoke in Monday’s opening round of eliminations led to an upset loss, ending Vandergriff’s day early.

For the second consecutive event, the former Bachelorette contestant and NHRA on FOX team member sat at the controls of team owner/driver Shawn Reed’s 12,000-horsepower machine, as Reed continues to recover from an on-track incident from earlier this summer. The Indianapolis race marks the third consecutive event where Reed has sat out. Vandergriff began competing and collecting points on Reed’s behalf, starting with the Brainerd, Minn. race, and this weekend at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Vandergriff returned as Reed’s fill-in driver and effectively cemented the Shawn Reed Racing team as contenders in the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, kicking off in less than two weeks.

After a solid outing in Brainerd which saw Vandergriff qualify third, reset his career-best speed multiple times, and earn a round win, the team continued their upward trajectory in Indianapolis. The weekend began on an impressive note when crew chief Rob Wendland tuned the Reed Trucking & Excavating dragster to a stout 3.683 E.T. at 333.33 mph on Friday night under the lights. The run was a career-best elapsed time for Vandergriff and placed him second on the Top Fuel timing sheet. Like many nitro teams, they struggled to make a full pull in the heat on Saturday, but returned with two good runs on Sunday, including a 3.770 E.T. during the weekend’s final qualifying session, which held up to be the second-quickest of the round.

Starting from the No. 2 qualifying position, Vandergriff drew Kyle Wurtzel as his first-round opponent on race day. Vandergriff was first on the throttle, but his machine lost traction early while Wurtzel clocked his quickest pass of the season in the opposite lane to score the upset win.

“A very tough first-round loss this morning,” Vandergriff said. “We came into race day feeling very confident in the car, especially qualifying No. 2. We really thought we had it, we just got a little aggressive. Tough to go out so early in the morning; hate that the day is done by 10:30, but so thankful to Shawn for the opportunity to drive these last two races. I feel like a racecar driver again. I can’t believe I now have over 10 competition runs under my belt after a few years away. Overall, great car, great team, and I’ve really enjoyed my time.”

Reed is working towards making his return to the driver’s seat in Reading, Pa., for the first of six NHRA Countdown races, where the Shawn Reed Racing team will start their playoff run from the No. 10 position. Qualifying for the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish gets underway on Friday, Sept. 12, at Maple Grove Raceway. 

Qualified: No. 2 (3.683 E.T. at 333.33 MPH)

Elimination Round Results:

E1: 4.385 E.T. at 255.87 MPH defeated by Kyle Wurtzel 3.766 E.T. at 321.73 MPH

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):

1	Tony Stewart	1138
2	Shawn Langdon	1099
3	Justin Ashley	1084
4	Doug Kalitta	1082
5	Brittany Force	909
6	Antron Brown	861
7	Clay Millican	786
8	Josh Hart	625
9	Steve Torrence	622
10	Shawn Reed/Jordan Vandergriff	535