After posting his first NHRATop Fuel victory Sunday at the AAA Texas Fall Nationals, the veteran leaped out of his dragster and jogged down the quarter-mile concrete strip in 131-degree heat to celebrate with teammates and high-five spectators who congratulated him for breaking through after going 0-13 in finals, dating to 1995.

The celebration was long building. In winning, Vandergriff snapped the longest streak of final-round appearances before a win in NHRA history.

"I knew it was going to happen, but I was hoping it was this time because I couldn't take another 'it's-all-right' speech, because it's not all right," said Vandergriff, who overcame a sideways start to win at 239.44 mph while Spencer Massey smoked his tires. "I didn't want my guys jumping all over the starting line and me down there hearing cricket noises all by myself."

Left outside the Countdown to the Championship playoff, Vandergriff beat a formidable list of favorites, including seven-time champion and No.1 qualifier Tony Schumacher in the second round.