J.R. Todd and the DHL/WIX Filters team earned their third straight semifinal finish in Norwalk today.
Todd and the DHL/WIX Filters team was only able to hit the track twice in qualifying due to weather, but the Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith-tuned machine made quick work of their first opportunity recording a 4.044 second pass, which secured a top half starting spot.
For the third time in four races, Todd drew Bob Tasca III on raceday. Todd got a big jump on Tasca III on the starting line and the DHL/WIX Filters Camry was clean to the finish line with a solid 4.016 second pass. That gave him lane choice over Ron Capps in the quarterfinals.
Todd got the advantage on the former champion at the start and Capps fell to tire smoke nearly immediately. Todd’s elapsed time improved to a 4.004 seconds and he advanced to his third straight semifinal.
In the semifinals, Todd picked his lane over Matt Hagan. It was a close race throughout the 1,000 foot distance, but Hagan got to the stripe first to end Todd’s weekend.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 7 (4.044 sec., 315.27 mph)
E1: Todd defeated Tasca III – 4.016 sec., 316.01 mph to 5.438 sec., 142.39 mph
E2: Todd defeated Capps – 4.004 sec., 321.27 mph to 9.588 sec., 81.59 mph
E3: Todd defeated by Hagan – 4.031 sec., 321.50 mph to 3.981 sec., 320.58 mph
Quotable: “Not the end result we wanted for this DHL/WIX Filters Toyota team, but a good day for points. We are making up ground on the cars in front of us, and hopefully we can keep moving forward.”
Point Standings: Fifth; leads Ron Capps by 12 points by fourth; trails Robert Hight by four points for fourth.
Kalitta Motorsports PR/Photo Credit Gary Nastase Photography
