YPSILANTI, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2025) – The old expression, “two steps forward, one step back” is the perfect description for J.R. Todd’s season, but the time for the next step forward is now. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues Aug. 15-17 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.
Despite occasional speedbumps, Todd’s projection has been upward mostly all season, and with an early-summer win in New Hampshire, those projections were verified. With just one semifinal since the win, a rough road trip to the west coast was the most-recent speedbump.
“I don’t think it’s just one thing in particular; it’s just like I’ve been saying all year,” Todd said. “It’s gonna take some time to get things dialed in, and we’re not fully there yet. Yeah, it gets frustrating. When you know you’re capable of going out there and winning races, but either the driver doesn’t leave on time, or we go out there and spin the tires – it’s just a combination of things. We gotta get it worked out, and we’ll get there, but like I keep saying, it’s gonna take some time. We’re obviously not patient people; we want it to happen right away, but it’ll come.”
Brainerd International Raceway was not kind to the DHL GR Supra team one year ago. Despite a semifinal showing, the team suffered two engine explosions destroying two Funny Car bodies and racing in the semifinals with a borrowed body from fellow Toyota driver Ron Capps.
“We had carnage leaving there last year,” Todd added. “Let’s just say if we were able to test on Monday and have a good productive test in the last few years, that meant we had a good race weekend, but we’re looking to have a good weekend this year and then have a productive test. I’m looking forward to it; we definitely need to iron a few things out coming off the western swing so hopefully we got that dialed in. This is definitely the most-important time of the year – you wanna start building some momentum and be ready for the Countdown (Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs) after a couple more races.”
With an extended Brainerd stay for post-race testing, Todd and some others from Team Kalitta will arrive in the land of 10,000 lakes a little early to enjoy some down time in a lakeside rental house. It’s a welcome respite from the normal race season travel routine.
“We get to hang out on the lake up there all week, and it’s good,” Todd said. “It’s kind of like a little mini-vacation before and during the race so it’s a nice little getaway from the racetrack. I definitely look forward to that, and I look forward to seeing the fans at the race track. I like the Brainerd fans; they’re really passionate about us coming there and it’s a way cool environment – you know they’ll be energetic.”
Race Information:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 4; beat Paul Lee and Austin Prock; lost to Matt Hagan.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 330 events, 22 wins, 26 runner-up, 360 round wins, 14 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
The post TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK: J.R. TODD, DHL TEAM SEEK NEXT STEP FORWARD first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Despite occasional speedbumps, Todd’s projection has been upward mostly all season, and with an early-summer win in New Hampshire, those projections were verified. With just one semifinal since the win, a rough road trip to the west coast was the most-recent speedbump.
“I don’t think it’s just one thing in particular; it’s just like I’ve been saying all year,” Todd said. “It’s gonna take some time to get things dialed in, and we’re not fully there yet. Yeah, it gets frustrating. When you know you’re capable of going out there and winning races, but either the driver doesn’t leave on time, or we go out there and spin the tires – it’s just a combination of things. We gotta get it worked out, and we’ll get there, but like I keep saying, it’s gonna take some time. We’re obviously not patient people; we want it to happen right away, but it’ll come.”
Brainerd International Raceway was not kind to the DHL GR Supra team one year ago. Despite a semifinal showing, the team suffered two engine explosions destroying two Funny Car bodies and racing in the semifinals with a borrowed body from fellow Toyota driver Ron Capps.
“We had carnage leaving there last year,” Todd added. “Let’s just say if we were able to test on Monday and have a good productive test in the last few years, that meant we had a good race weekend, but we’re looking to have a good weekend this year and then have a productive test. I’m looking forward to it; we definitely need to iron a few things out coming off the western swing so hopefully we got that dialed in. This is definitely the most-important time of the year – you wanna start building some momentum and be ready for the Countdown (Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs) after a couple more races.”
With an extended Brainerd stay for post-race testing, Todd and some others from Team Kalitta will arrive in the land of 10,000 lakes a little early to enjoy some down time in a lakeside rental house. It’s a welcome respite from the normal race season travel routine.
“We get to hang out on the lake up there all week, and it’s good,” Todd said. “It’s kind of like a little mini-vacation before and during the race so it’s a nice little getaway from the racetrack. I definitely look forward to that, and I look forward to seeing the fans at the race track. I like the Brainerd fans; they’re really passionate about us coming there and it’s a way cool environment – you know they’ll be energetic.”
Race Information:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 10-11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 on FS1
- Finals: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17 on FOX
2024 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 4; beat Paul Lee and Austin Prock; lost to Matt Hagan.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 330 events, 22 wins, 26 runner-up, 360 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 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.
- Sonoma: Qualified No. 11; lost to Hunter Green.
The post TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK: J.R. TODD, DHL TEAM SEEK NEXT STEP FORWARD first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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