YPSILANTI, Mich. (Sept. 24, 2024) – J.R. Todd and his DHL GR Supra team need more performance, and the time is now. The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs resumes Sept. 27-29, 2024 at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Ill., the third of six playoff races.
The first two playoff races were frustrating for the DHL GR Supra team. With one round win in two races, the team is now sixth in points – its lowest points position of the season. This team needs a trip to the later rounds of this weekend’s race to stay in the conversation.
“We just need to go out there, figure out how to perform with the front runners and do our thing,” Todd said. “We don’t need to worry about where we are in the points or what we need to do there – just focus on our performance. It’s not hard to do that at this point because we need a miracle to get back in the championship hunt. I don’t need to change my approach as far as how I drive the car; there’s only so much you can do in the seat, but it would be nice to go out there and win another race before the season’s over.”
That said, 16 of the 24 rounds making up the NHRA Playoffs remain. St. Louis is one of the tracks on which Todd has never won, and the old saying, “there’s no time like the present” appears to apply.
“Anything can happen – especially with how the points work in Pomona (points and a half), but the position we’re in – we’re more than two races out of first place so it’s definitely a long shot. We definitely have chance to finish in the top five – I haven’t done that since I won the championship so that’s a realistic goal for us.”
A win this weekend could certainly change that outlook and make more goals realistic while potentially propelling the DHL Toyota team closer to the top of the standings.
“Each track is different, and St. Louis has its own characteristics with some bumps here and there. When it’s cool and the conditions are right, it can definitely be fast. It’s another track that’s somewhat close to Indy so it draws in that Indy crowd of people. It’s somewhat of a home race for a lot of people in our sport that live there. It’s another track where we haven’t won that I’d like to check off the list.”
Race Information: NHRA Midwest Nationals World Wide Technology Raceway; Madison, Ill.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2023 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; defeated Bobby Bode; lost to Blake Alexander.
Funny Car Career Stats: 312 events, 21 wins, 26 runner-up, 347 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (wins in italics):
The post J.R. TODD FOCUSING ON PERFORMANCE IN THIRD PLAYOFF RACE first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
The first two playoff races were frustrating for the DHL GR Supra team. With one round win in two races, the team is now sixth in points – its lowest points position of the season. This team needs a trip to the later rounds of this weekend’s race to stay in the conversation.
“We just need to go out there, figure out how to perform with the front runners and do our thing,” Todd said. “We don’t need to worry about where we are in the points or what we need to do there – just focus on our performance. It’s not hard to do that at this point because we need a miracle to get back in the championship hunt. I don’t need to change my approach as far as how I drive the car; there’s only so much you can do in the seat, but it would be nice to go out there and win another race before the season’s over.”
That said, 16 of the 24 rounds making up the NHRA Playoffs remain. St. Louis is one of the tracks on which Todd has never won, and the old saying, “there’s no time like the present” appears to apply.
“Anything can happen – especially with how the points work in Pomona (points and a half), but the position we’re in – we’re more than two races out of first place so it’s definitely a long shot. We definitely have chance to finish in the top five – I haven’t done that since I won the championship so that’s a realistic goal for us.”
A win this weekend could certainly change that outlook and make more goals realistic while potentially propelling the DHL Toyota team closer to the top of the standings.
“Each track is different, and St. Louis has its own characteristics with some bumps here and there. When it’s cool and the conditions are right, it can definitely be fast. It’s another track that’s somewhat close to Indy so it draws in that Indy crowd of people. It’s somewhat of a home race for a lot of people in our sport that live there. It’s another track where we haven’t won that I’d like to check off the list.”
Race Information: NHRA Midwest Nationals World Wide Technology Raceway; Madison, Ill.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 on FS1
- Finals: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 on FS1
2023 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; defeated Bobby Bode; lost to Blake Alexander.
Funny Car Career Stats: 312 events, 21 wins, 26 runner-up, 347 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (wins in italics):
- Gainesville: Qualified No. 6; defeated Blake Alexander, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca and Austin Prock.
- Pomona: Qualified No. 11; defeated Cruz Pedregon and Paul Lee; lost to Matt Hagan.
- Phoenix: Qualified No. 5; defeated Cruz Pedregon and John Force before losing to Austin Prock.
- Las Vegas 4W: Qualified No. 3; defeated D. Wilkerson, D. Richards before losing to M. Hagan and R. Capps
- Charlotte 4W: Qualified No. 12; defeated Ron Capps and Buddy Hull in the first round, Cruz Pedregon and John Force in the semifinals before beating John Force but losing to Matt Hagan and Daniel Wilkerson in the final round.
- Chicago: Qualified No. 12; lost to Alexis DeJoria.
- Epping: Qualified No. 3; defeated Dave Richards and Bob Tasca before losing to John Force.
- Bristol: Qualified No. 11; defeated Terry Haddock, Ron Capps, John Force; lost to Austin Prock.
- Richmond: Qualified No. 7; lost to Matt Hagan.
- Norwalk: Qualified No. 2; defeated Chris King; lost to Ron Capps.
- Seattle: Qualified No. 4; defeated Buddy Hull and Bob Tasca; lost to Austin Prock.
- Sonoma: Qualified No. 6 defeated Jason Rupert, lost to Ron Capps.
- Brainerd: Qualified No. 8; defeated Paul Lee, Austin Prock; lost to Matt Hagan.
- Indianapolis: Qualified No. 10; lost to Ron Capps.
- Reading: Qualified No. 11; defeated Matt Hagan, lost to Jack Beckman.
- Charlotte: Qualified No. 6; lost to Dan Wilkerson.
The post J.R. TODD FOCUSING ON PERFORMANCE IN THIRD PLAYOFF RACE first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
