J.R. Todd, DHL GR Supra Funny Car
2025 Lucas Oil Winternationals Recap: Qualified No. 7; lost to Daniel Wilkerson.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 339 events, 22 wins, 27 runners-up, 367 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 4
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“After the different conditions we had in pre-season testing and at the first two races, I know we have a car that can compete with these guys. Gainesville gets tricky when the track gets sun on it, and it was tricky on race day; the sun came out and the temperatures went up. It was nothing like the cool conditions we had when we tested there. In Gainesville, you had to tiptoe off the starting line and then get after it. In Phoenix, with the hottest conditions we’ve raced in, you had to get all of it early and then put it on cruise control once you got to the asphalt at halftrack. They were similar but different. It’s nice to have the combination of Dickie and Todd (Crew Chief Dickie Venables and Todd Smith) that can work in different conditions like that; it definitely gives you confidence as the driver.
“Success is a matter of the car going down the track or it not going down the track; our success rate wasn’t very good for the last handful years so it’s been a 180-degree change so far. Hopefully, we continue on that path because, once again, conditions are gonna be different this weekend from what they were the first two races. I think it gives the whole team confidence.
“Last season definitely didn’t go the way we anticipated, but we made a bunch of changes going into 2026 – bringing Todd Smith back helps Dickie with two very smart-minded individuals bouncing ideas off each other. We have two brand new cars that are different from what we were running in the past and some different parts and pieces from what we ran last year so it’s kind of just a whole new combination. So far, I think it’s showing promise.
“The 1,000th Funny Car race is pretty cool, but I really don’t want to put the cart before the horse. I’m focused on our DHL team making the kind of runs we’re capable of making. If we do that, then I guess we’ll get another trophy to go along with the 75th anniversary Wally. I really don’t want to go into the weekend thinking about that or putting pressure on us. We just want to make strong runs, hopefully win the race and gain as many points as possible. If we do that, trophy will come with it.”
Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For J.R. Todd’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
The post J.R. Todd Contends for 1,000th Funny Car Title first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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2025 Lucas Oil Winternationals Recap: Qualified No. 7; lost to Daniel Wilkerson.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 339 events, 22 wins, 27 runners-up, 367 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 4
Pre-Race Notes:
- J.R. Todd’s 2026 season is off to a good start following excellent pre-season testing. He reached the semifinals at the season-opening race in Florida, and although he went out in the second round in Phoenix three weeks ago, he merely ended up on the wrong end of a great drag race with Spencer Hyde and missed the semifinals by .0106 seconds.
- Todd earned a “double-up” win in the first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season in Phoenix with his teammate, Doug Kalitta. It was the team’s second double win in the special Saturday event – Todd and Kalitta accomplished the same at last season’s U.S. Nationals. Todd is not competing in the event this weekend.
- Todd has two wins in four final-round appearances along with one No. 1 qualifier at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
- This week’s race is the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history. Last season, Todd’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, won the 1,000th Top Fuel race so Todd is looking for a Kalitta Motorsports sweep of the 1,000th races in the nitro classes.
- Todd is the 2018 NHRA Funny Car Champion and owns 22 race wins in his career.
Pre-Race Quotes:
“After the different conditions we had in pre-season testing and at the first two races, I know we have a car that can compete with these guys. Gainesville gets tricky when the track gets sun on it, and it was tricky on race day; the sun came out and the temperatures went up. It was nothing like the cool conditions we had when we tested there. In Gainesville, you had to tiptoe off the starting line and then get after it. In Phoenix, with the hottest conditions we’ve raced in, you had to get all of it early and then put it on cruise control once you got to the asphalt at halftrack. They were similar but different. It’s nice to have the combination of Dickie and Todd (Crew Chief Dickie Venables and Todd Smith) that can work in different conditions like that; it definitely gives you confidence as the driver.
“Success is a matter of the car going down the track or it not going down the track; our success rate wasn’t very good for the last handful years so it’s been a 180-degree change so far. Hopefully, we continue on that path because, once again, conditions are gonna be different this weekend from what they were the first two races. I think it gives the whole team confidence.
“Last season definitely didn’t go the way we anticipated, but we made a bunch of changes going into 2026 – bringing Todd Smith back helps Dickie with two very smart-minded individuals bouncing ideas off each other. We have two brand new cars that are different from what we were running in the past and some different parts and pieces from what we ran last year so it’s kind of just a whole new combination. So far, I think it’s showing promise.
“The 1,000th Funny Car race is pretty cool, but I really don’t want to put the cart before the horse. I’m focused on our DHL team making the kind of runs we’re capable of making. If we do that, then I guess we’ll get another trophy to go along with the 75th anniversary Wally. I really don’t want to go into the weekend thinking about that or putting pressure on us. We just want to make strong runs, hopefully win the race and gain as many points as possible. If we do that, trophy will come with it.”
Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For J.R. Todd’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
The post J.R. Todd Contends for 1,000th Funny Car Title first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
