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BRAINERD, Minn. (8/13/06) -- J.R. Todd's string of races without a first-round loss ended at six Sunday on what began as a damp day in Brainerd, Minn., but it didn't dampen the SKULL Shine Top Fuel team's spirit.
Coming off an amazing streak that included two victories in the past three NHRA POWERade Series races and two other semifinal finishes, Todd chalked this up to another learning experience for the rookie team with only 12 races on its resume.
"We just didn't have enough steam," Todd said after losing a close race to Melanie Troxel after a long rain delay. "The track was real good and so was the weather (after the rain clouds departed), and Jimmy (Walsh, the crew chief) tuned it up . . . but it wasn't enough."
Todd, who qualified 12th, recorded his quickest run of the weekend, 4.622 seconds at 314.61 mph against Troxel, but he couldn't catch her 4.562-second at 327.66-mph run.
"We missed a round in qualifying Saturday and, looking back on it, that made a big difference today," noted Todd. "That would've given Jimmy another run on the tune-up and we could've run better today.
"Except for that one time here, the car is going down the track like it should and the crew is getting better and better. We're ready to go to Memphis."
The O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals begins its three-day run at Memphis Motorsports and features night racing, with Sunday's eliminations set for a 3 p.m. start.
J.R. Todd Upbeat after Early Loss
BRAINERD, Minn. (8/13/06) -- J.R. Todd's string of races without a first-round loss ended at six Sunday on what began as a damp day in Brainerd, Minn., but it didn't dampen the SKULL Shine Top Fuel team's spirit.
Coming off an amazing streak that included two victories in the past three NHRA POWERade Series races and two other semifinal finishes, Todd chalked this up to another learning experience for the rookie team with only 12 races on its resume.
"We just didn't have enough steam," Todd said after losing a close race to Melanie Troxel after a long rain delay. "The track was real good and so was the weather (after the rain clouds departed), and Jimmy (Walsh, the crew chief) tuned it up . . . but it wasn't enough."
Todd, who qualified 12th, recorded his quickest run of the weekend, 4.622 seconds at 314.61 mph against Troxel, but he couldn't catch her 4.562-second at 327.66-mph run.
"We missed a round in qualifying Saturday and, looking back on it, that made a big difference today," noted Todd. "That would've given Jimmy another run on the tune-up and we could've run better today.
"Except for that one time here, the car is going down the track like it should and the crew is getting better and better. We're ready to go to Memphis."
The O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals begins its three-day run at Memphis Motorsports and features night racing, with Sunday's eliminations set for a 3 p.m. start.
