Two days of qualifying at the NHRA Midwest Nationals from World Wide Technology had J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car entering race day as the No. 10 Funny Car. Todd and his team were looking for another win and adding meals to Feeding America through their win light program with primary sponsor DHL. Every win light on race day would mean Kalitta Motorsports and DHL would donate 20,000 meals to the national charity working to erase food insecurity in America.
In a rematch of last week’s first round against Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria Todd took the win light in a wild first round race. Todd was first off the starting line but just before the finish line his DHL Funny Car begins to sashay in his lane. The 2018 world champion stayed on the throttle knowing the finish line was just off the nose of his GR Supra Funny Car. The confidence paid off as he held off a charging DeJoria for the win and advancement to the quarterfinals.
It was an epic second round race with Todd facing No.2 qualifier John Force for a shot at the semifinals. Both former world champions knew each other tactics and the race was a great side-by-side battle. Todd took off just after Force and was around him and pulling away by half track. As the finish line closed in Force was able to make up some ground and as they crossed the finish line it was Todd coming up about three feet short. The DHL Toyota GR Supra lit up the scoreboard with a 3.967 second, 321.58 mph in a losing effort.
Todd will leave the Midwest Nationals sitting in seventh place in the point standing just two points out of sixth. In two weeks the DHL Toyota GR Supra will be back in action at Texas Motorplex for the Texas Fall Nationals.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 10 (3.989 sec, 309.84 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
10 J.R. Todd .060 3.928 318.24 (W)
7 Alexis DeJoria .111 3.928 328.62
Second Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
10 J.R. Todd .082 3.967 321.58
2 John Force .076 3.968 324.28 (W)
Kalitta Motorsports PR
