On the heels of a semifinal finish last week in Houston J.R. Todd took the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car continued to make performance strides this weekend at zMax Dragway. Todd gained valuable information during the four qualifying sessions and entered race day in the top half of the fifteen-car field as the No. 6 qualifier. Todd’s quickest qualifying effort of 3.893 seconds gave the 10-time Funny Car winner confidence that his DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car was moving in the right direction.
Todd took his first win light of the day with a quick win over second place finisher Ron Capps, Chad Green and Dale Creasy Jr. His winning time of 3.892 seconds was his best effort of the weekend.
“We’ve just been struggling for whatever reason and stupid little things happen and some things are out of our control, but nonetheless, don’t worry about the past,” said Todd. “We’re looking into the future. It would be a good day to win here at zMax for Toyota Gazoo Racing North America, DHL, CMR and all of our sponsors that are here this weekend. I was ready and I was third off the line and I thought I wasn’t that late. It’s tough out here right now in Funny Car.”
In the second quad of the day Todd was joined by No. 2 qualifier Matt Hagan, Capps (No. 3) and No. 15 qualifier Mike McIntire. As soon as Todd hit the throttle his race car went into immediate tire smoke and the 2018 Funny Car world champion could only watch as Hagan smoked the tires in front of him. Capps and McIntire drove to the final foursome. The positive momentum from the weekend’s first round win will be evaluated and built upon and the DHL team moves forward in two weeks during the Virginia Nationals.
Todd will leave Charlotte sitting No. 6 in the Camping World Drag Racing Series point standings less than three rounds out of the top five.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.893 sec., 330.63 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Quad
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
6 J.R. Todd .061 3.892 330.39 (W)
3 Ron Capps .055 3.923 326.05 (W)
11 Chad Green .086 4.026 275.79
14 Dale Creasy Jr. .056 4.020 315.19
Second Quad
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
6 J.R. Todd .060 10.389 59.36
2 Matt Hagan .045 8.168 91.59
3 Ron Capps .035 3.954 323.89 (W)
15 Mike McIntire .184 4.031 312.64 (W)
Kalitta Motorsports PR
