TOYOTA NHRA: DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals Preview

zMax Dragway


What: DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals

When: September 17-19

Where: zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, N.C.

TV: 

FS1 – Qualifying Show, 9/19 – 10:00 a.m.-Noon

FOX – Eliminations, 9/19 – 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Todd With Strong Start In Countdown...J.R. Todd opened up the Countdown to the Championship playoffs with a strong start in advancing to the semifinals at Maple Grove. It marked the fourth time that the DHL Toyota Camry has gone to the semifinals or beyond in the last five races as he pursues a second Funny Car world championship in five years after claiming his first crown in 2018. Todd has a stellar 24-13 round win-loss record this season.

Langdon’s Charlotte Success…zMAX Dragway has a number of fond memories for Shawn Langdon. He earned his first-ever Top Fuel win at the track in Fall 2012 and then went on to claim his first Funny Car triumph in the 2019 Four-Wides becoming just the 16th driver in history to win in both Nitro categories.

Brown Looks For Record-Tying Sixth zMAX WinAntron Brown will be looking for a record-tying sixth Top Fuel win at zMAX Dragway this weekend as he pursues a fourth world championship. The long-time Toyota driver won the Fall Charlotte race in both 2015 and 2016 on the way to Top Fuel titles, as well as in 2011. He also won Four-Wide events at the track in 2014 and 2015. This weekend will mark Brown’s final appearance at zMAX with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) as his new AB Motorsports team will debut in 2021. He’s been with DSR since 2009.

Toyota Drivers in Championship Hunt…All five Toyota drivers remain in the hunt for an NHRA title with J.R. Todd leading the way in fourth place in Funny Car – 39 points out of the top spot. Antron Brown is currently sixth in Top Fuel with Shawn Langdon seventh, while Alexis DeJoria is eighth in Funny Car and Doug Kalitta tenth in Top Fuel.

Quotes:

J.R. Todd, DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: “I like racing as much as possible which is why I like this time of year. It is all about getting momentum, getting on a roll and staying hot. I am glad we get to go back at it in a couple days. We’re going to Charlotte and fight it out.  It’s going to be a battle all the way down to the end between a pack of cars and I just want to be in that pack when it comes down to Pomona. We’ve got a good consistent DHL Toyota.“

Antron Brown Matco Tools/Toyota Top Fuel Dragster: “We’re looking forward to getting to Charlotte for the second race of the Countdown to the Championship. We know we have to go out and compete and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Toyota-Sponsored Cars at DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals

Top FuelCar
Antron Brown       Matco Tools Toyota Dragster
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Dragster
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Dragster
Funny CarCar
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota Camry Funny Car
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota Camry Funny Car

2021 Toyota NHRA Drivers Performance Index/Schedule

2021 ToyotaBrownKalittaLangdonDeJoriaTodd
Gainesville10/Semis4/Rd. 26/Finals2/Rd. 26/Winner
Las Vegas 4-Wide8/Semis3/Finals6/Rd. 23/Rd. 29/Rd. 2
Atlanta8/Winner9/Rd. 111/Semis14/Rd. 11/Semis
Charlotte 16/Semis12/Rd. 211/Rd. 12/Semis4/Finals
Houston3/Rd. 29/Finals7/Semis2/Rd. 28/Rd. 2
Epping6/Rd. 25/Rd. 28/Rd. 15/Rd. 19/Rd. 2
Norwalk6/Semis11/Rd. 116/Rd. 16/Semis9/Rd. 2
Denver9/Rd. 14/Rd. 18/Rd. 12/Finals7/Rd. 2
Sonoma3/Semis8/Rd. 29/Rd. 22/Semis12/Rd. 2
Pomona11/Semis6/Rd. 15/Rd. 26/Rd. 27/Finals
Topeka8/Rd. 19/Rd. 17/Semis2/Rd. 21/Finals
Brainerd6/Rd. 29/Rd. 17/Rd. 19/Rd. 211/Semis
U.S. Nationals15/Rd. 13/Rd. 216/Rd. 17/Semis5/Rd. 2
Maple Grove7/Rd. 19/Rd. 111/Rd. 28/Rd. 17/Semis

Toyota NHRA Driver Statistics

Toyota Drivers   Top FuelPoints – Leader Torrence (2179)2021 Wins2021 W-L Career RacesCareer WinsCareer Win-Loss
6. Brown2103 (-76)119-1345568760-384
7. Langdon2102 (-77)013-1428117310-261
10. Kalitta2032 (-147)010-1453849721-482
Funny CarForce (2172)     
4. Todd2133 (-39)124-1324819274-226
8. DeJoria2063 (-109)016-141665125-156=7

Toyota Racing PR

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