CHANDLER, Ariz. (March 21, 2026) – – Todd won the Mission Foods Challenge twice last year and is one for one in 2026. He defeated Alexis Dejoria in the semifinal run with a 4.024-second pass at 322.58 mph and advanced to race Jordan Vandergriff. In the final, Todd’s 4.196-second effort gave him the win by .0223 seconds. It was his sixth Mission Foods Challenge win and the second Mission Foods Challenge sweep for Kalitta Motorsports.
“I feel like we have something for these guys this year,” Todd said. “So far, it’s a good weekend for the DHL GR Supra and Kalitta Motorsports. It’s getting tricky out there the hotter it gets; it’s great to take to first 2 fast 2 ‘toasty’ challenge. Thank you to Mission Foods; our mission this year is to take all the money. They put it out there, we might as well take it. Hats off to my guys, they’re doing a great job.
“You always want to win these things, but I feel like we’re also trying to get good data for tomorrow,” Todd said. “I think Dickie and Todd (Crew Chiefs Dickie Venables and Todd Smith) wanted to see what we could get away with that run, because that’s what we’re going to be dealing with tomorrow. Once you get on the asphalt, it’s tricky and it’s fun. The car got real sideways, like I was dirt tracking in there, but that’s what makes Funny Cars awesome. As a driver, you’re going to have to deal with that and maybe pedal (the throttle) tomorrow.”
With fewer than 16 Top Fuel cars in Phoenix, Langdon will have a first-round bye on Sunday. Kalitta is the No. 3 qualifier and will race No. 14 qualifier Will Smith. In Funny Car, Todd is the No. 8 qualifier and will race No. 9 qualifier Austin Prock.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post J.R. Todd Capture Double Mission Foods Challenge Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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“I feel like we have something for these guys this year,” Todd said. “So far, it’s a good weekend for the DHL GR Supra and Kalitta Motorsports. It’s getting tricky out there the hotter it gets; it’s great to take to first 2 fast 2 ‘toasty’ challenge. Thank you to Mission Foods; our mission this year is to take all the money. They put it out there, we might as well take it. Hats off to my guys, they’re doing a great job.
“You always want to win these things, but I feel like we’re also trying to get good data for tomorrow,” Todd said. “I think Dickie and Todd (Crew Chiefs Dickie Venables and Todd Smith) wanted to see what we could get away with that run, because that’s what we’re going to be dealing with tomorrow. Once you get on the asphalt, it’s tricky and it’s fun. The car got real sideways, like I was dirt tracking in there, but that’s what makes Funny Cars awesome. As a driver, you’re going to have to deal with that and maybe pedal (the throttle) tomorrow.”
With fewer than 16 Top Fuel cars in Phoenix, Langdon will have a first-round bye on Sunday. Kalitta is the No. 3 qualifier and will race No. 14 qualifier Will Smith. In Funny Car, Todd is the No. 8 qualifier and will race No. 9 qualifier Austin Prock.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post J.R. Todd Capture Double Mission Foods Challenge Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
