The daunting Western Swing is right around the corner and J.R. Todd is ready for the challenge. Only one Funny Car driver has swept the three races contested on the western side of the country and it has been over twenty years since that feat was accomplished. The reigning Funny Car world champion is confident his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car is capable of making a run at history.
“You look back and only one guy has swept the Western Swing in a Funny Car,” said Todd. “I think that shows you how tough these three races are. They have a lot of different characteristics from the mountains of Denver to Sonoma in northern California to Seattle. We have had some success at all the tracks.”
Todd will be chasing some additional history this weekend at the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. He will be looking to add his name beside drag racing Hall of Famer and legend Kenny Bernstein as the only drivers to win in Top Fuel and Funny Car at the famed Colorado national event. Todd picked up two Top Fuel wins at the Mile-High Nationals, 2006 and 2014, and Bernstein secured his Top Fuel win in 1992 after winning three Mile-High Funny Car national titles in 1981, 1985 and 1987.
“It would be awesome to join Kenny Bernstein as the only two drivers to win here in Top Fuel and Funny Car,” said Todd. “Brandon (Bernstein, Kenny’s son) is a really good friend of mine so that would be cool. Kenny got his Funny Car wins first and then his Top Fuel win so we’ll be doing it backwards from him but it would be a great honor for sure.
As the reigning Funny Car champion J.R. Todd and his well-regarded Yella Fellas DHL crew have raced to three final rounds so far including a win at the Las Vegas Nationals. They have secured two No. 1 qualifiers this season and overall their consistency has been solid throughout most events. They are looking at the three race western swing as a chance to continue to build towards a championship caliber tune-up even though the race tracks will be vastly different once the season starts winding down.
“I think the biggest plus of winning on the Western Swing is it shows you can overcome some adversity and some challenges,” said Todd. “You have to be able to pull together and get the car down the track in some unique conditions and as a driver you really have to be on top of your game. For me this is where I really start to focus on getting ready for the Countdown. We have five more races before the play-offs. You need to start getting mentally prepared for that. The western swing is a great place to start.”
The three race swing will begin this Friday with qualifying at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Bandimere Speedway.
2018 Mile High NHRA Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 10; Lost to Ron Capps
Last Event Recap (2019 New England NHRA Nationals): Qual. 1; Beat bye; Lost to Tim Wilkerson
Quotable: J.R. Todd on starting the Western Swing: “You look at the schedule every year at the beginning of the season and you see the dates of the Western Swing. Every driver immediately starts thinking about how cool it would be to win those three races in a row. There are races like Indy and the Gatornationals that are historic races, but if you can sweep the Western Swing you know you have accomplished something really special.”
Career Stats: 213 events, 205 starts, 227 round wins, 18 wins, 32 finals, 12 No. 1 qualifiers; in Funny Car: 61 events, 61 starts, 9 wins, 12 finals, 77 round wins, 3 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. No. 5; Beat Terry Haddock; Lost to Jack Beckman
Norwalk: Qual. No. 7; Beat Robert Hight; Lost to John Force
Epping: Qual. No. 1; Beat bye; Lost to Tim Wilkerson
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