J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team were looking for their eleventh career Funny Car national event win and second win at the Auto Club Finals this weekend. In a very quick Funny Car field Todd narrowly missed starting from the top half of the field with best run of 3.895 seconds during the Friday and Saturday sessions. Todd entered race day as the No. 9 qualifier and a race against No. 8 qualifier veteran Tim Wilkerson.
Todd got a huge jump off the starting line with a stellar .035 reaction time that pushed his DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car out front. As Todd was charging down his lane his Funny Car smoked the tires and Wilkerson was beside him on a smooth and quick run. Wilkerson made his quickest pass, 3.878 seconds of the weekend for the first round win.
“I felt good about coming into race day and we got a great jump off the starting line,” said Todd. “We didn’t have the race or season we wanted but no one is going to work harder this off-season than me and this DHL Toyota team. I have to thank (crew chiefs) Todd Smith, Jon Oberhofer and all my Yella Fella guys for their hard work this weekend and this season.”
Todd will finish the season with his sixth consecutive Top Ten Funny Car points finish.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 9 (3.895 sec, 333.41 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
9 J.R. Todd .035 4.349 218.27
8 Tim Wilkerson .075 3.878 331.12 (W)
Kalitta Motorsports PR
