J.R. Todd’s pre-season goal, after a championship of course, was a top-five finish in points. That goal is definitely in reach entering the season’s final race. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series ends this weekend at the In ‘N Out Burger NHRA Finals on theIn ‘N Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif., the last of six races that make up the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs.
With 20 of 21 races now in the rear-view mirror, Todd and team are in position for a top-five finish in the season standings. Entering this week’s final race of the season, Todd is sixth in points just 14 points out of fifth place, but what is interesting about the In ‘N Out Burger NHRA Finals is that NHRA awards points and a half. Instead of earning 20 points for winning a round on Sunday, the winning driver is awarded 30 points. With that in mind, Todd could potentially make up the 117-point deficit and move up to a fourth-place finish.
“You always want to win the last race of the season no matter where you are in points,” Todd said. “Whatever appearances and shows you do over the winter, it’s cool to be able to say you won your last race, and it would be nice for DHL, Revchem, Toyota and SealMaster if we could finish the season with a win. I like racing at Pomona – it’s the birthplace of drag racing pretty much, and Southern California has a cool vibe that I like; every driver wants to win there as much as possible. That place is always fast when conditions allow for it so it could be a really fun weekend.”
Race Information:
In ‘N Out Burger NHRA Finals
In ‘N Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
TV Schedule:
- Qualifying Show: 2-4 p.m. eastern Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 on FS1.
- Finals: 4-7 p.m. eastern Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 on FS1.
- Post-Race Show: 7-7:30 p.m. eastern Sunday, Nov. 12 on FS1.
2022 In ‘N Out Burger NHRA Finals Recap: Qualified No. 9; lost to Tim Wilkerson in the first round.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 297 events, 325 round wins, 20 wins, 45 final rounds, 14 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified No. 6; defeated Blake Alexander, Robert Hight, Chad Green; lost to Matt Hagan in final.
Phoenix: Qualified 15th; lost to Alexis DeJoria in the first round.
Pomona: Qualified No. 5; lost to Alex Laughlin in the first round.
Las Vegas: Did not qualify.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6; lost to Robert Hight and Mike McIntire in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; lost to Bob Tasca in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 8; defeated Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan before losing to John Force in the semifinals.
Bristol: Qualified No. 7; lost to John Force.
Norwalk: Qualified No. 7; defeated John Force and Ron Capps before losing to Matt Hagan in the semifinals.
Denver: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tim Wilkerson and John Force before losing to Alexis Dejoria in the semifinals.
Seattle: Qualified No. 5; defeated Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green before losing to Tim Wilkerson by .0522 seconds in the final round.
Sonoma: Qualified No. 8; defeated Blake Alexander, Bob Tasca, Matt Hagan and Chad Green earning his first win of the season.
Topeka: Qualified No. 7; defeated Chad Green and Ron Capps before losing to Matt Hagan in the semifinals.
Brainerd: Qualified No. 2; lost to Dale Creasy in the first round.
Indianapolis: Qualified No. 10; defeated Blake Alexander, Bob Tasca and Cruz Pedregon before losing to Ron Capps in the final round.
Reading: Qualified No. 11; lost to Matt Hagan in the first round.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 8; lost to Paul Lee in the first round.
St. Louis: Qualified No. 11; defeated Bob Bode, lost to Blake Alexander in the second round.
Dallas: Qualified No. 6; defeated Blake Alexander and Terry Haddock before losing to John Force in the semifinals.
Las Vegas: Qualified No. 10; lost to Cruz Pedregon in the first round,
Current Point Standings: Todd enters Pomona in sixth place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails fifth-place John Force by 14 points and leads seventh-place Chad Green by eight points with one race remaining in the season.
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