In the four races since his runner-up finish in Richmond J.R. Todd has had one of the quickest Funny Cars on the Mello Yello tour. His DHL Toyota Camry qualified in the top half of the field every race in the month of June including a No.1 qualifier in Topeka. Even with that kind of Friday and Saturday showing the DHL team was not satisfied with Sunday results. In Norwalk they pulled out their back-up race car for race day and will continue to campaign the 2018 NHRA championship winning DHL Toyota Camry for the foreseeable future.
“We just needed to try something different I think,” said Todd. “Getting back in the championship DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car is cool. Lots of good memories from last season but really (crew chiefs) Todd (Smith) and Jon (Oberhofer) just wanted to be able to get a better handle on the race car. Both of these Camrys are awesome for sure.”
This season has seen Todd race to three final rounds and pick up a win in Las Vegas. For the reigning Funny Car champion final rounds are great but seeing four win lights on Sunday is what really keeps the whole team motivated.
“When we win we do the mosh pit on the starting line and it has been a while since one of those,” said Todd. “Everybody on this DHL team is focused and ready to celebrate on Sunday. The month of June was a grind but it also helps bring a team together. You are spending a lot of time together and we tested the Monday after Norwalk. We made some really good runs and I think that is the sort of thing that will pay dividends in July and into the Countdown.”
2018 New England NHRA Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Tim Wilkerson
Last Event Recap (2019 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals): Qual. 7; Beat Robert Hight; Lost to John Force
Quotable: J.R. Todd on heading to Epping: “There will be a ton of people in Epping we know that for sure. It will be a holiday weekend so the place will be packed. We have a ton of fans in the north east and this track gets NHRA fans from all over that area.”
Career Stats: 212 events, 204 starts, 226 round wins, 18 wins, 32 finals, 11 No. 1 qualifiers; in Funny Car: 60 events, 60 starts, 9 wins, 12 finals, 77 round wins, 2 No. 1 qualifiers
2019 Season:
Winternationals: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Bob Tasca III
Arizona Nationals: Qual. No. 5; RUNNER-UP; Beat Terry Haddock, Tommy Johnson Jr., Robert Hight, Lost to Matt Hagan
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Jack Beckman
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 4; WINNER; Beat Gary Densham and Jim Campbell in first quad, Matt Hagan and Jeff Diehl in second quad and in the final quad beat Tommy Johnson Jr., Jack Beckman and Tim Wilkerson.
Houston: Qual. No. 4; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Robert Hight
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 8; Beat Bob Tasca III and Bob Glibertson; Lost to Shawn Langdon and Robert Hight
Atlanta: Qual. No. 2; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Richmond: Qual. No. 4; RUNNER-UP; Beat Bob Tasca III, Shawn Langdon, Jonnie Lindberg; Lost to Ron Capps
Chicago: Qual. No. 6; Lost to John Force
Topeka: Qual. No. 1; Beat bye; Lost to Robert Hight
Bristol: Qual. 5; Beat Terry Haddock; Lost to Jack Beckman
Norwalk: Qual. 7; Beat Robert Hight; Lost to John Force
Kalitta Motorsports PR
