YPSILANTI, Mich. (July 22, 2025) – With half the season now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to get in position for a strong regular-season finish, and the consistency J.R. Todd and his DHL team showed last weekend just might show they’re ready to take the next step. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues July 25-27 at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Somona, Calif.
Todd was the provisional No. 1 qualifier following the Friday night qualifying session last weekend. Unlike most race weekends when Friday-night conditions are the best of the weekend, last Saturday afternoon presented race conditions nearly as good as Friday night, but despite those great conditions, nobody could knock the DHL team out of the top spot. Todd held onto his provisional No. 1 qualifier until the final pair of cars in the final qualifying session. Both cars in that pair made quicker runs, and Todd qualified third.
In Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, Todd made a 3.888-second pass; it was his quickest of the season. The team made another strong run in the second round but failed to get the win. Despite the second-round loss, the DHL GR Supra team made six strong runs and showed the consistency for which the team strives.
“It’s all about consistency,” Crew Chief Dickie Venables said. “That’s what it takes to win. We don’t have that yet. Our goal for Seattle was trying to go A to B on all the runs, and we were able to do that. We’re still working on it and making headway. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re pleased with the progress. J.R. does a great job behind the wheel. There’s nothing there that I even think about. He’s smooth, he drives the car well, he does everything the same and he’s a champ for a reason. It’s a pleasure to work with him.”
“We made some really good runs in Seattle so we’re hoping to carry that momentum into Sonoma,” Todd said. “It’s a place where we’ve had some success in the past – we won there two years ago. It’s probably my favorite track on tour so it would be a good place to pick up another win.”
With just three races remaining in the regular season, after which the points are reset to begin the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs; the time to enhance that consistency and strive for more round wins is now.
“This is the time of the year to start making moves,” Todd said. “I’ve talked a lot about going to the later rounds and getting points, gaining on these guys in front of us and hoping they go out early so we can make up some ground going into the countdown. This is the time of the year to make that happen. I have a handful of wins at Sonoma, and we’ve just run well there in the past. With the momentum we have coming out of Seattle, we need to keep it going, hopefully get to the final and finish the deal. Funny Car is so tough; you can’t take things for granted – you just have to keep digging.”
Race Information:
Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma Raceway; Sonoma, Calif.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 6; beat Jason Rupert; lost to Ron Capps.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 329 events, 22 wins, 26 runner-up, 360round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
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Todd was the provisional No. 1 qualifier following the Friday night qualifying session last weekend. Unlike most race weekends when Friday-night conditions are the best of the weekend, last Saturday afternoon presented race conditions nearly as good as Friday night, but despite those great conditions, nobody could knock the DHL team out of the top spot. Todd held onto his provisional No. 1 qualifier until the final pair of cars in the final qualifying session. Both cars in that pair made quicker runs, and Todd qualified third.
In Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, Todd made a 3.888-second pass; it was his quickest of the season. The team made another strong run in the second round but failed to get the win. Despite the second-round loss, the DHL GR Supra team made six strong runs and showed the consistency for which the team strives.
“It’s all about consistency,” Crew Chief Dickie Venables said. “That’s what it takes to win. We don’t have that yet. Our goal for Seattle was trying to go A to B on all the runs, and we were able to do that. We’re still working on it and making headway. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re pleased with the progress. J.R. does a great job behind the wheel. There’s nothing there that I even think about. He’s smooth, he drives the car well, he does everything the same and he’s a champ for a reason. It’s a pleasure to work with him.”
“We made some really good runs in Seattle so we’re hoping to carry that momentum into Sonoma,” Todd said. “It’s a place where we’ve had some success in the past – we won there two years ago. It’s probably my favorite track on tour so it would be a good place to pick up another win.”
With just three races remaining in the regular season, after which the points are reset to begin the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs; the time to enhance that consistency and strive for more round wins is now.
“This is the time of the year to start making moves,” Todd said. “I’ve talked a lot about going to the later rounds and getting points, gaining on these guys in front of us and hoping they go out early so we can make up some ground going into the countdown. This is the time of the year to make that happen. I have a handful of wins at Sonoma, and we’ve just run well there in the past. With the momentum we have coming out of Seattle, we need to keep it going, hopefully get to the final and finish the deal. Funny Car is so tough; you can’t take things for granted – you just have to keep digging.”
Race Information:
Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma Raceway; Sonoma, Calif.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 10-11:30 p.m. Friday, July 25 on FS1
- Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Show: 6-7 p.m. Saturday, July 26 on FOX
- Qualifying Show 1: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 27 on FS1
- Finals: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, July 27 on FOX
2024 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 6; beat Jason Rupert; lost to Ron Capps.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 329 events, 22 wins, 26 runner-up, 360round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
- Gainesville: Qualified No. 11; lost to Bobby Bode.
- Phoenix: Qualified No. 9; defeated Daniel Wilkerson before losing to Bob Tasca in the second round.
- Pomona: Qualified No. 7; lost to Daniel Wilkerson.
- Las Vegas: Qualified No. 4: defeated Bobby Bode, Jack Beckman, lost to Matt Hagan, Paul Lee.
- Charlotte: Qualified No. 11; defeated Dan Wilkerson, Bob Tasca; lost to Austin Prock, Ron Capps.
- Chicago: Qualified No. 4; lost to Cruz Pedregon.
- Epping: Qualified No. 10; defeated Cruz Pedregon, Phil Burkart, Alexis DeJoria and Spencer Hyde.
- Bristol: Qualified No. 6; defeated Spencer Hyde; lost to Ron Capps
- Richmond: Qualified No. 3; defeated Buddy Hull and Hunter Green; lost to Austin Prock.
- Norwalk: Qualified No. 12; lost to Matt Hagan.
- Seattle: Qualified No. 3; defeated Cruz Pedregon; lost to Alexis Dejoria.
The post J.R. TODD, DHL TEAM “NOT QUITE THERE YET” BUT WILL KEEP DIGGING first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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