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J.R. Todd Races to SpringNationals Semifinals
Looking to secure the final NHRA SpringNationals Funny Car title J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car put up a strong effort this weekend at Houston Raceway Park outside of Houston, Texas. After 35 years the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series held what has been announced as the final SpringNationals this weekend and Todd was vying for his second Funny Car title to go along with a Top Fuel win he secured in 2007. As one of only three professional drivers to have won in Houston in both elite categories, Funny Car and Top Fuel, Todd wanted to secure his first win of 2022 to make it three total wins at Houston Raceway Park.
He was on his way today with an upset win in the first round as the No. 13 qualifier took out the No. 4 qualifier. Todd had struggled in qualifying, but his Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer tuned Toyota Funny Car came up aces with a first round win. The 2018 Funny Car world champion took a starting line advantage and never looked back making a smooth run down a tricky race track. His winning time of 4.008 seconds was enough to advance to the second round and give hum lane choice over veteran driver Jim Campbell.
In the quarterfinals Todd again took a great starting line reaction time advantage and parlayed it into another win light. It was another 4.00 second run, this time a 4.004 second pass at 322.19 mph, to head to his first semifinal round of the season. Conditions were tough for all the teams, but Todd’s DHL Toyota team found a way to race smart and get win lights.
“This place is a great equalizer especially when the sun gets on the track,” said Todd, after his second round victory. “The track has a lot of character. We have won here in the past, so we know how to get it done. We didn’t get off to the start we wanted to with this DHL Toyota GR Supra but it is coming around. I have to thank everyone at DHL and Toyota Gazoo Racing for the support. We have a lot of people from DHL so it would be great to celebrate with them in the winner’s circle.”
In a semifinal race against the No. 8 qualifier Todd knew they would need to be aggressive with a tune-up if they were going to make their first final round appearance of the season. The 10-time Funny Car winner’s driving skills were on display as he launched his 11,000-horspower Toyota Supra Funny Car first but there was simply too much power applied to the track and his Goodyear tires lost traction almost immediately. He pedaled the DHL Funny Car and made a valiant effort to chase down his opponent but there was no recovering from the immediate loss of momentum.
The overall success of race day will carry Todd and the DHL team to Charlotte for the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals in five days. Todd moved up into a tie with Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria for the No. 6 spot in the Funny Car point standings.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 13 (4.044 sec., 319.90 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
13 J.R. Todd .051 4.008 322.65 (W)
4 Bob Tasca III .071 5.475 132.37
E2
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
13 J.R. Todd .070 4.004 322.19 (W)
12 Jim Campbell .121 4.074 311.34
Semifinals
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
13 J.R. Todd .051 10.851 81.82
8 Matt Hagan .077 3.937 323.97 (W)
Langdon and DHL Race to Quarterfinals at Houston SpringNationals
Shawn Langdon and the DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster continued to make progress as the young NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season made its turn into the warmer spring and summer months. Racing at Houston Raceway Park, in 80-degree temperatures which translated to temps well over 100 degrees on the track Langdon and his DHL Toyota team battled through two days of qualifying to head into eliminations as the No. 10 Top Fuel dragster in a 16-car field.
In a wild first round race Langdon picked up the win as he pedaled and muscled his DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster down the right lane. Both race cars had traction issues but as Langdon was working to regain power his parachutes deployed just beyond half-track, and he carried that extra drag to the finish line. The 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion had enough of a lead and skill to get to the finish line first.
“This is a good track but getting through the tough section is a little bit difficult to navigate,” said Langdon after the win. “I was just a little aggressive getting back on the pedal. I was a little quick and it kept smoking the tires. I really got lucky to get that round win. I didn’t do a great job, but I was better than my opponent and that is all that matters. I got a round win and that was good for DHL, CMR Roofing and Construction, Toyota and everybody. We have had some goofy stuff happen and that win light wasn’t completely goofy for us.”
In the quarterfinals for the second consecutive race Langdon was ready to go head-to-head with the No. 2 qualifier and eventual race winner Brittany Force. Langdon jumped off the starting line with a dominant starting line advantage and was pulling away when his dragster overpowered the race track. Force was able to drive around the 2013 Top Fuel world champion.
Langdon will be back in action in five days at the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. He will be racing his CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster for the third time this season.
Statistics:
Qualified: Qual. 10 (3.728 sec, 325.30 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
10 Shawn Langdon .072 4.774 197.44 (W)
7 Leah Pruett .052 5.078 201.04
E2
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
10 Shawn Langdon .060 5.589 128.73
2 Brittany Force .103 3.773 330.47 (W)
Doug Kalitta and Mobil1 Top Fuel Exit Houston Focused on Charlotte
The winningest Top Fuel driver in Houston Raceway Park history, Doug Kalitta, was looking to add to his win total with the Mobil 1 Toyota Top Fuel dragster this weekend at the 35th NHRA SpringNationals. Through two days of qualifying the 49-time winner entered race day as the No. 3 qualifier on the strength of his final run of 3.696 seconds at 328.70 mph which earned him two qualifying bonus points. The veteran driver and his 11,000-horsepower dragster improved throughout the weekend and were confident entering a race where they were runner-up last season.
Facing Billy Torrence in the first round Kalitta got the jump off the starting line and was pulling away just past half-track. Kalitta moved first with a .056 reaction time and that was almost enough to keep him out in front at the finish line. As Kalitta was approaching the finish line his Goodyear tires lost traction for a moment and that opened the door for Torrence to move around him for the win.
“We qualified third and this Mobil1 Toyota dragster has been running good,” said Kalitta. “We were running one of the Torrence cars and they just outran us. My lights are getting better this weekend. Everyone is working their tails off on this race car. Just real proud to be racing this Mobil1 dragster. I am confident heading to Charlotte.”
Kalitta will have a chance earn win number 50 in a few days when the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series heads to zMax Dragway for the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals April 29-May 1.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 3 (3.696 sec., 328.70 mph)
Bonus points: +2 (2nd quickest of Q3)
Race Details:
E1
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
3 Doug Kalitta .056 3.772 323.89
14 Billy Torrence .092 3.726 319.07 (W)