FUNNY CAR CHAMPION: J.R. Todd, DHL Funny Car
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 on FS2
Qualifying: J.R. Todd was the No. 10 qualifier at the NHRA New England Nationals. His best qualifying attempt came in the Friday evening session when he needed only 3.922 seconds to reach the finish line at 329.75 mph.
Eliminations: Todd won the NHRA New England Nationals hoisting the trophy for the first time since Gainesville, Fla., last season, and it was his first victory with Crew Chief Dickie Venables. Todd’s DHL GR Supra was spectacular on race day with four excellent runs after the team suffered an engine malfunction in the final qualifying round Saturday afternoon and had to go to a backup body for race day. Todd defeated Cruz Pedregon, Phil Burkart, Alexis DeJoria and Spencer Hyde to win his 22nd-career race and his first of the season. Todd and Venables put the exclamation point on the win with a 3.888-second pass at 332.43 mph to win the race.
When Todd advanced to the semifinals, he earned a spot in his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season next week in Bristol, Tenn. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in New England will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
Unofficial Point Standings: Todd jumped four spots in points and leaves Epping in sixth place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails fifth-place Ron Capps by three points and leads seventh-place Chad Green by 26 points.
Todd on Epping: “You want to take about patience? I almost ran out of it on the starting line (in the final round). I flinched probably three or four times and did everything but red light. Tree comes on, and I’m like, ‘Oh crap, I’m late!’ I never saw him (Spencer Hyde). Next thing you know, I’m over by the wall and (I said), ‘I aint lifting until that win light comes on.’ Sure enough, it came on. I’m glad we got that out of the way for Dickie’s sake. I’m not saying there was pressure on him, but people expect you to win when you hire a guy of his caliber. I never said anything before this weekend, but coming here, I knew he and (Matt) Hagan won a lot here so I was pretty excited. At the same time, we’re still in the learning stages with what we’re doing here.
“This win is for Eddie (Scott Kalitta). We had the celebration (Eddie’s Lobsterfest) last night in Scott’s honor, and this one’s for him. I have to thank Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) for giving me the chance to drive Scott’s car. My guys are the best in the business; I say it all the time, but I truly believe I have the best crew out here. They dig deep and work their asses off; they deserve this.
“With Eddie’s Lobsterfest, I was bummed that my guys didn’t get to take part in it because they were working away. Everybody ate all the lobster and steak, and there was some cold food for them when they got done. They reminded me of that today. They were making jokes about catching on fire yesterday, ‘Hey, maybe we should do this every week.’ I don’t think so, but to win, whatever it takes. They keep it fun over there; getting a trophy is the only way to pay them back.
“Last night, a few of us were up in the lounge telling stories about Scott – that’s the reason we do that Saturday night; it’s in his honor, his memory. It’s Scott’s car; it still has his name on it, and it’ll forever be his car. I’m just the lucky one that gets to drive it. Days like today make you think there’s a higher power making things happen for you.”
J.R. Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post J.R. Todd Wins NHRA New England Nationals first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 on FS2
Qualifying: J.R. Todd was the No. 10 qualifier at the NHRA New England Nationals. His best qualifying attempt came in the Friday evening session when he needed only 3.922 seconds to reach the finish line at 329.75 mph.
Eliminations: Todd won the NHRA New England Nationals hoisting the trophy for the first time since Gainesville, Fla., last season, and it was his first victory with Crew Chief Dickie Venables. Todd’s DHL GR Supra was spectacular on race day with four excellent runs after the team suffered an engine malfunction in the final qualifying round Saturday afternoon and had to go to a backup body for race day. Todd defeated Cruz Pedregon, Phil Burkart, Alexis DeJoria and Spencer Hyde to win his 22nd-career race and his first of the season. Todd and Venables put the exclamation point on the win with a 3.888-second pass at 332.43 mph to win the race.
When Todd advanced to the semifinals, he earned a spot in his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season next week in Bristol, Tenn. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in New England will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
Unofficial Point Standings: Todd jumped four spots in points and leaves Epping in sixth place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails fifth-place Ron Capps by three points and leads seventh-place Chad Green by 26 points.
Todd on Epping: “You want to take about patience? I almost ran out of it on the starting line (in the final round). I flinched probably three or four times and did everything but red light. Tree comes on, and I’m like, ‘Oh crap, I’m late!’ I never saw him (Spencer Hyde). Next thing you know, I’m over by the wall and (I said), ‘I aint lifting until that win light comes on.’ Sure enough, it came on. I’m glad we got that out of the way for Dickie’s sake. I’m not saying there was pressure on him, but people expect you to win when you hire a guy of his caliber. I never said anything before this weekend, but coming here, I knew he and (Matt) Hagan won a lot here so I was pretty excited. At the same time, we’re still in the learning stages with what we’re doing here.
“This win is for Eddie (Scott Kalitta). We had the celebration (Eddie’s Lobsterfest) last night in Scott’s honor, and this one’s for him. I have to thank Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) for giving me the chance to drive Scott’s car. My guys are the best in the business; I say it all the time, but I truly believe I have the best crew out here. They dig deep and work their asses off; they deserve this.
“With Eddie’s Lobsterfest, I was bummed that my guys didn’t get to take part in it because they were working away. Everybody ate all the lobster and steak, and there was some cold food for them when they got done. They reminded me of that today. They were making jokes about catching on fire yesterday, ‘Hey, maybe we should do this every week.’ I don’t think so, but to win, whatever it takes. They keep it fun over there; getting a trophy is the only way to pay them back.
“Last night, a few of us were up in the lounge telling stories about Scott – that’s the reason we do that Saturday night; it’s in his honor, his memory. It’s Scott’s car; it still has his name on it, and it’ll forever be his car. I’m just the lucky one that gets to drive it. Days like today make you think there’s a higher power making things happen for you.”
J.R. Todd Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post J.R. Todd Wins NHRA New England Nationals first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
