NHRA: Vandergriff retires, shuts down BVR

Bob Vandergriff announced his immediate retirement from the NHRA Monday, shutting down his entire BVR organization, which in 2016 fielded Top Fuel teams with drivers Dave Connolly and Leah Pritchett (above) in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Vandergriff, who stepped down as a driver to focus solely on BVR for the 2015 season, cited the desire to spend more time with his family combined with "the struggles the oil and gas industry has been facing over the last 12-18 months."

"I've been considering retirement for a few years now, and I've actually done it once already when I retired from the driver's seat at the end of the 2014 season," Vandergriff said in a statement. "Now it's time to retire from the sport altogether. The recent unexpected death of BVR supporter and close friend Josh Comstock, from C&J Energy Services, has made me reflect and seriously reevaluate my priorities in life."

"When combined with [the oil and gas industry struggle] it seemed like now was the right time to retire."

Vandergriff won NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 1994 and went on to win three races.

Pritchett, who signed on in December and won her first Wally in February at Phoenix, called Vandergriff's retirement "beyond unfortunate, surprising, and a tip of a seahorse to say the least" in a post on her Facebook page.

"I have beyond huge gratitude to Bob for believing in me, on and off the track," she wrote. "His steadfast efforts to keep this program afloat, and providing me with the most memorable times made with some of the best people this phenom sport has to offer... coupled with my first Top Fuel win makes my time at BVR ultimately invaluable."

The 27-year-old ended her statement on a high note, saying "You know I won't lift!!!"

Connolly, who finished 10th in points last season, switched from Pro Stock to Top Fuel in 2015 and qualified for the Countdown to the Championship. He owns 26 Pro Stock wins and is still seeking his first win in Top Fuel.