YPSILANTI, Mich. (Sept. 14, 2025) – J.R. Todd and Crew Chief Dickie Venables know how to win championships, and they enter the first race of the 2025 NHRA Playoffs with a capable car. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs begin Sept. 12-14 at the NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish in Mohnton, Pa.
Todd is the 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion, and Venables, in his first season at Team Kalitta, is a four-time Funny Car championship crew chief. Todd won in Epping, N.H., in June and nearly earned another win last month in Brainerd, Minn. He won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA challenge twice, including the final special event of the season two weeks ago at the U.S. Nationals, and after a season of trials and tribulations involved with transforming the DHL GR Supra into a championship contender, this team is poised to make some noise in the Countdown.
“I feel like we have a car that’s capable going out there and making good runs when we need to,” Todd said. “The runs we’ve made are encouraging going into the countdown, and now it’s time to go unload. We’re still growing as a race team, but the car is responding to the changes Dickie is making. I don’t want to say that we’re ‘there’ yet, but we’re definitely not way behind these guys like we were a handful of races ago.”
Todd enjoyed a mystical run to the Funny Car title in 2018 winning three races in five final rounds in the Countdown. That’s certainly not likely with the competition in today’s Funny Car class, but it was perfect in 2018.
“The competition is a lot tougher than it was in 2018; Funny Car is tougher than it ever has been,” Todd added. “It’s just different now, and we know it’s gonna be tough. The JFR cars are still the top cars out there week in and week out so to win the championship, you’re gonna have to go through them. Our goal is to go out there and try to win as many of the next six races as we can.”
While the season is now down to just the six playoff races, the task remains the same; qualify well and advance into the later rounds at each race to have a shot at victory. Playoffs or regular season, Todd’s job in the car doesn’t change.
“I don’t do anything different in Epping, N.H., compared to Reading, Pa. because Reading is a Countdown race. If you change the way you think or the way you do things, you’re probably gonna screw something up so I approach every race the same. I mean the pressure is definitely on now, but now is the time to make it happen. We work all season long for these final six races.
“I always enjoy going to Reading; when the weather’s right, that place can be really quick and fast, and that place is always packed. Those race fans are passionate about us coming there so it’s a good place to put on a good show. I always enjoy going there, especially when we can go there and win!”
Race Information:
NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish Maple Grove Raceway; Mohnton, Pa.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 NHRA Reading Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; beat Matt Hagan; lost to Jack Beckman.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 332 events, 22 wins, 27 runner-up, 363 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
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Todd is the 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion, and Venables, in his first season at Team Kalitta, is a four-time Funny Car championship crew chief. Todd won in Epping, N.H., in June and nearly earned another win last month in Brainerd, Minn. He won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA challenge twice, including the final special event of the season two weeks ago at the U.S. Nationals, and after a season of trials and tribulations involved with transforming the DHL GR Supra into a championship contender, this team is poised to make some noise in the Countdown.
“I feel like we have a car that’s capable going out there and making good runs when we need to,” Todd said. “The runs we’ve made are encouraging going into the countdown, and now it’s time to go unload. We’re still growing as a race team, but the car is responding to the changes Dickie is making. I don’t want to say that we’re ‘there’ yet, but we’re definitely not way behind these guys like we were a handful of races ago.”
Todd enjoyed a mystical run to the Funny Car title in 2018 winning three races in five final rounds in the Countdown. That’s certainly not likely with the competition in today’s Funny Car class, but it was perfect in 2018.
“The competition is a lot tougher than it was in 2018; Funny Car is tougher than it ever has been,” Todd added. “It’s just different now, and we know it’s gonna be tough. The JFR cars are still the top cars out there week in and week out so to win the championship, you’re gonna have to go through them. Our goal is to go out there and try to win as many of the next six races as we can.”
While the season is now down to just the six playoff races, the task remains the same; qualify well and advance into the later rounds at each race to have a shot at victory. Playoffs or regular season, Todd’s job in the car doesn’t change.
“I don’t do anything different in Epping, N.H., compared to Reading, Pa. because Reading is a Countdown race. If you change the way you think or the way you do things, you’re probably gonna screw something up so I approach every race the same. I mean the pressure is definitely on now, but now is the time to make it happen. We work all season long for these final six races.
“I always enjoy going to Reading; when the weather’s right, that place can be really quick and fast, and that place is always packed. Those race fans are passionate about us coming there so it’s a good place to put on a good show. I always enjoy going there, especially when we can go there and win!”
Race Information:
NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish Maple Grove Raceway; Mohnton, Pa.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show: Noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 on FS1
- Finals: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept.14 on FS1
2024 NHRA Reading Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; beat Matt Hagan; lost to Jack Beckman.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 332 events, 22 wins, 27 runner-up, 363 round 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.
- 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.
- Sonoma: Qualified No. 11; lost to Hunter Green.
- Brainerd: Qualified No. 5; defeated Paul Lee, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman; lost to Austin Prock.
- Indianapolis: Qualified No. 7; lost to Bob Tasca.
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