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YPSILANTI, Mich. (June 7, 2023) – For anyone following the 2023 NHRA season, it’s no secret that the season is not going as planned, so far, for J.R. Todd and his DHL Toyota team, but while last weekend’s New Hampshire weather was unfortunate, running two races in one weekend is an opportunity for Todd and team. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes this weekend with the NHRA New England Nationals and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 9-11 at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
With persistent rain and temperatures hovering in the high 40s, not completing the New Hampshire race was not surprising. Running both the New England and Thunder Valley Nationals in the same weekend becomes quite an opportunity for a team whose season hasn’t gone so well in the first six races.
“For us, I hope it’s a time for this DHL Toyota team to turn around our season,” Todd said. “It would be nice to do really well in Bristol this weekend. We were the runner-up there a couple of years ago – doing well in two races in the same weekend would be a really good way to get us back on track.
“I was trying to think if there was ever a time when we had to run two complete races in the same weekend. I think it was the first year I drove for Connie (team owner Connie Kalitta) when we got a round win, I think in Charlotte, and then finished the rest of the race in Dallas, but I don’t remember doing two complete races in the same weekend before.”
The key to success in this most unusual format might be the first round of qualifying Friday afternoon which is only Bristol qualifying before Epping eliminations begin during the second round of Bristol qualifying.
“It makes Q1 (first round of qualifying) super important to get down the track and get yourself qualified well,” Todd added. “Other than that, you have to kind of go into race mode. A lot will depend on whether you’re in or out of the field after that first qualifying attempt as far as how you approach the second qualifying round that’s also be the first round of Epping eliminations.
“You have to try to win the (Epping) round, but you also have to make the (Bristol) race so that first qualifying round will be really important. It’s definitely a bonus for the fans, but at the end of the day, you have to be aware if lane choice matters for the next round, for example. Bristol is one of my favorite tracks, but the surface is one of the hardest tracks we compete on each season. It is definitely tricky especially when it gets warm there. It’s bumpy, and you kind of have to tip-toe your way down there to make it to the finish line under power. It’s definitely gonna be interesting racing there during qualifying, that’s for sure.”
Race Information:
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and NHRA New England Nationals
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
TV Schedule:
- Qualifying 1: 7-8 p.m. Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations Round 1: 8-9:30 Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations: 10:30-Midnight Saturday, June 10 on FS1
- Qualifying 2: 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
2022 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Recap: Qualified 11th and lost to Cruz Pedregon in the first round.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 281 events, 307 round wins, 19 wins, 42 final rounds, 14 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified sixth; defeated Blake Alexander, Robert Hight, Chad Green; lost to Matt Hagan in final.
Phoenix: Qualified 15th and lost to Alexis DeJoria in the first round.
Pomona: Qualified fifth and lost to Alex Laughlin in the first round.
Las Vegas: Did not qualify.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6 but 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; eliminations TBD.
Current Point Standings: Todd enters Bristol in 10th place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails ninth-place Cruz Pedregon by 69 points and leads 11th place Blake Alexander by six points.
LANGDON EXCITED FOR “AWESOME” TWO-RACE WEEKEND AT THUNDER VALLEY
Shawn Langdon has two wins at Thunder Valley, and due to last weekend’s rainout in Epping, N.H., the Kalitta Air Toyota driver has a chance to double his win total this weekend. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes this weekend with the NHRA New England Nationals and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 9-11 at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
With Epping eliminations happening during Bristol qualifying, this weekend is literally two races in one:
Qualifying Session No. 1 Friday: Bristol Qualifying Session One.
Qualifying Session No. 2 Friday: Bristol Qualifying Session Two and Epping Eliminations Round 1.
Qualifying Session No. 3 Saturday: Bristol Qualifying Session Three and Epping Eliminations Round 2.
Between Qualifying Sessions 3 and 4: Epping Semifinals (does not count for Bristol qualifying).
Qualifying Session No. 4 Saturday: Bristol Qualifying Session 4 and Epping Finals.
“I like it,” Langdon said. “It’s gonna put a lot more at stake. Every qualifying run will matter, and every eliminations run will matter. How they intertwined the (Mission Foods) #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge which will also be intertwined with the Epping race and the Bristol race qualifying – I think it’s awesome, and I’m excited to be a part of it.
“The situation in Epping was tough; there’s really no right or wrong answer to it because any way you do it, some people will agree, and some people won’t. In my opinion, they made the best-possible decision. Epping has one of the best fan bases on tour, but logistically, it would be very difficult to get back up there to put on a great show for them. There are minimal options moving forward, so when I heard what the plan was, I liked it and knew I could get behind it. It raises the stakes for everything, and I think it was the right decision.”
That right decision created what some consider a dilemma: racing during qualifying. Should the team focus on New England Dragway racing, Bristol qualifying or both, and if it’s both, how would that work?
“You’re racing to win the round,” the 2013 Top Fuel champion added. “The qualifying run will be a residual effect of you trying to win the round. Anytime I sit in a race car, whether its testing, qualifying, eliminations or racing in the finals for a championship, I have the same mentality. Nothing changes on my end, and I don’t think much changes as far as the tune-up goes. The team goes up there to make the best run possible, and I go up there to cut the best light possible. I don’t think that much changes.”
Race Information:
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and NHRA New England Nationals
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
TV Schedule:
- Qualifying 1: 7-8 p.m. Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations Round 1: 8-9:30 Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations: 10:30-Midnight Saturday, June 10 on FS1
- Qualifying 2: 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
2022 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Recap: Qualified ninth; defeated Spencer Massey, Mike Salinas and Antron Brown before losing to Justin Ashley in the final round.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 314 events, 337 round wins, 17 wins, 38 final rounds, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown by two 10 thousandths of a second.
Phoenix: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Pomona: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tony Schumacher, lost to Brittany Force.
Las Vegas: Qualified No. 6; defeated Krista Baldwin and Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence and
Josh Hart in the semifinals.
Charlotte: Qualified 11th, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 2; eliminations TBD.
Point Standings: Langdon enters Bristol in ninth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails eighth-place Mike Salinas by 44 points and leads his teammate, 10th-place Doug Kalitta, by three points.
THREE-TIME BRISTOL WINNER WANTS FOUR OF A KIND AT THUNDER VALLEY
After an incredibly frustrating weekend trying to wait out the New England weather, 49-time race winner Doug Kalitta turns his attention to grabbing not only his fourth Thunder Valley win but also his 50th-career win, and while he’s at it, why not go for 51 in the same weekend? The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes this weekend with the NHRA New England Nationals and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 9-11, 2023 at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
After a weekend of horrendous weather in Epping, N.H., rain forced eliminations for that race to move to this weekend during Bristol qualifying. With three wins in six Bristol final rounds, Kalitta knows his way around Thunder Valley quite well. Throw in his 2019 No. 1 qualifier, and he’s done everything he can do at Bristol, but a win, or two, this weekend would be a special way to get the Mac Tools Toyota team moving up the point standings.
“We’d definitely like to get two wins this weekend, but we don’t want to be greedy,” Kalitta said in jest. “With the way this season’s gone, I’m know we’d all be super excited to get that 50th win no matter where it happens, but after what everyone went through in Epping this past weekend, it sure would be nice to have a great weekend in Bristol and get us headed back in the right direction.”
This weekend is literally two races in one:
Qualifying Session No. 1 Friday: Bristol Qualifying Session One.
Qualifying Session No. 2 Friday: Bristol Qualifying Session Two and Epping Eliminations Round 1.
Qualifying Session No. 3 Saturday: Bristol Qualifying Session Three and Epping Eliminations Round 2.
Between Qualifying Sessions 3 and 4: Epping Semifinals (does not count for Bristol qualifying).
Qualifying Session No. 4 Saturday: Bristol Qualifying Session 4 and Epping Finals.
This weekend will force teams to take a race-day approach during qualifying making the opening qualifying session perhaps the key to the entire weekend. A good run in the opening round, which is not part of Epping eliminations, means the team is in the race and that it can focus on trying to win the Epping race during the remaining qualifying sessions.
“It’s definitely something we haven’t done very much so nobody has a lot of experience with a weekend like we’ll have in Bristol, but it’s the same for everyone who was in Epping,” Kalitta added. “Alan, Brian (co-crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen) and the rest of my guys are putting us in position to succeed. We just need everything to come together. Everyone on this Mac Tools Toyota team is working as hard as they can, and I believe in our team. We’re hoping for a big weekend in Bristol.”
Race Information:
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and NHRA New England Nationals
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
TV Schedule:
- Qualifying 1: 7-8 p.m. Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations Round 1: 8-9:30 Friday, June 9 on FS1
- Epping Eliminations: 10:30-Midnight Saturday, June 10 on FS1
- Qualifying 2: 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, June 11 on FS1
2022 Thunder Valley Nationals Recap: Qualified 12th and lost to Brittany Force in the first round.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 571 events, 741 round wins, 49 wins, 107 final rounds, 52 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gatornationals: Qualified third; defeated Spencer Massey, Antron Brown; lost to Steve Torrence
Phoenix: Qualified No. 1; defeated Rob Passey, lost to Shawn Langdon.
Pomona: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown in the first round.
Las Vegas: Qualified 10th; lost to Steve Torrence and Josh Hart in the first round.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6; lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel, lost to Clay Millican.
Epping: Qualified No. 12; eliminations TBD.
Current Point Standings: Kalitta enters Bristol in 10th place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails his teammate, ninth-place Shawn Langdon, by 3 points and leads today’s race winner, 11th place Clay Millican, by 20 points.