J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car rolled into zMax Dragway looking for their first career win at the track located in the heart of NASCAR country. In 2018 during his Funny Car championship season Todd raced to a runner-up finish and this weekend he was looking for one more win light. Four win lights today would have created the opportunity for Kalitta Motorsports and primary sponsor DHL to donate 80,000 meals to Feeding America. The two companies are collaborating during the month of September to donate 20,000 meals for every win light beginning this weekend and for the following three NHRA national events.
Through two days of qualifying Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra made solid runs with their two passes on Saturday earning him four qualifying bonus points as the second quickest run of each session. Heading into race day his quickest time of 3.873 seconds at 328.54 mph gave him lane choice over Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria.
In the opening round today both Funny Cars rolled into the staging beams and it was Todd taking a starting line advantage with a .056 second reaction time in front of DeJoria’s .071 second start. As soon as his racecar left the starting line it began moving around and the 10-time Funny Car national event winner had his hands full. The loss of one cylinder robbed Todd of valuable horsepower and had Todd manhandling his race car down the track. DeJoria posted a career quickest pass to turn on the win light.
“After our qualifying runs we had a lot of confidence and we still feel like we can run with anyone out here,” said Todd. “We are going to get ready for St. Louis and make the most out of this first half of the Countdown. These DHL guys busting their tails. We just need to translate that effort to race day and I know we can do that.”
Todd and the DHL Toyota Funny Car team will be back on track at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway out side of St. Louis in five days.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.873 sec, 328.54 mph)
Bonus points: +4 (2nd quickest of Q2 and Q3)
Race Details:
First Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
6 J.R. Todd .056 4.192 239.70
9 Alexis DeJoria .071 3.878 334.73 (W)
Kalitta Motorsports PR
