J.R. Todd, DHL GR Supra Funny Car
2025 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; defeated Bob Tasca and Daniel Wilkerson; lost to Austin Prock and Ron Capps.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 340 events, 22 wins, 27 runners-up, 369 round wins, 15 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 3
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“Winning that No. 1 qualifier in Pomona just shows that the performance of our DHL hot rod is coming around thanks to Dickie and Todd (Crew Chiefs Dickie Venables and Todd Smith). Going back to Gainesville testing, we ran really well in cool conditions, and now we’re getting to some places where the cooler temperatures and the better tracks are coming around, so it was awesome to see that come up on the scoreboard. I was just happy for the guys; they put in so much hard work in the pit area and back of the shop. This is a small way to reward them.
“It’s been rough for a handful of years, but bringing Dickie on last year, I knew the performance was going to come around. We fought some things last year that we didn’t expect to happen and then made some more changes for 2026. I think it’s going in the right direction for sure. I’m just really happy to have Todd Smith back there working with Dickie; to hear those two going back and forth in the lounge gives me a little more pep in my step, that’s for sure.
“I don’t really change my driving style (for four-wide racing); you have to pay a little more attention with three other drivers on the starting line as opposed to one. You just have to be focused on your lane and your light. There’s definitely a lot more going on, but at the end of the day, it’s just focus on the mission at hand.
“I don’t want to say it’s harder or you have to be more focused, but you have to remind yourself what lane you’re in because it can get confusing on the stage lights. You’re looking at a different side of the tree so you have to focus on the right stage lights depending on what lane you’re in. It’s still drag racing. The yellow light comes on – you have to hit the gas on time.”
Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For J.R. Todd’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
The post J.R. Todd Wants Charlotte NHRA Race Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
2025 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 11; defeated Bob Tasca and Daniel Wilkerson; lost to Austin Prock and Ron Capps.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 340 events, 22 wins, 27 runners-up, 369 round wins, 15 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 3
Pre-Race Notes:
- J.R. Todd enters the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in third place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings.
- Todd has two semifinal finishes in the season’s first three races. In addition, Todd was the No. 1 qualifier in Pomona, Calif., two weeks ago. It was the 15th of his career and his first since 2021. Todd qualified in the top-two positions at two of the three races this season.
- When Todd advanced to the second round two weeks ago in California, he earned a spot in this week’s Mission Foods Challenge. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the quarterfinals at the last race will re-run the 4-Wide semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points. Due to the 4-Wide format, eight drivers will compete in the event in each class this week instead of four.
- 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 has three runner-up finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers at zMAX Dragway but has yet to win a race at the suburban Charlotte track.
- Todd is the 2018 NHRA Funny Car Champion and owns 22 race wins in his career.
Pre-Race Quotes:
“Winning that No. 1 qualifier in Pomona just shows that the performance of our DHL hot rod is coming around thanks to Dickie and Todd (Crew Chiefs Dickie Venables and Todd Smith). Going back to Gainesville testing, we ran really well in cool conditions, and now we’re getting to some places where the cooler temperatures and the better tracks are coming around, so it was awesome to see that come up on the scoreboard. I was just happy for the guys; they put in so much hard work in the pit area and back of the shop. This is a small way to reward them.
“It’s been rough for a handful of years, but bringing Dickie on last year, I knew the performance was going to come around. We fought some things last year that we didn’t expect to happen and then made some more changes for 2026. I think it’s going in the right direction for sure. I’m just really happy to have Todd Smith back there working with Dickie; to hear those two going back and forth in the lounge gives me a little more pep in my step, that’s for sure.
“I don’t really change my driving style (for four-wide racing); you have to pay a little more attention with three other drivers on the starting line as opposed to one. You just have to be focused on your lane and your light. There’s definitely a lot more going on, but at the end of the day, it’s just focus on the mission at hand.
“I don’t want to say it’s harder or you have to be more focused, but you have to remind yourself what lane you’re in because it can get confusing on the stage lights. You’re looking at a different side of the tree so you have to focus on the right stage lights depending on what lane you’re in. It’s still drag racing. The yellow light comes on – you have to hit the gas on time.”
Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For J.R. Todd’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 7-8:30 Friday, April 24 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 11-Noon Sunday, April 26 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, April 26 on FS1
The post J.R. Todd Wants Charlotte NHRA Race Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
