Today's win marked J.R. Todd’s first-ever Gatornationals victory and gave him a sweep of the NHRA “Grand Slam” of the four biggest races in the sport – the Winternationals, the Gatornationals, the U.S. Nationals and the NHRA Finals. He also won the 2018 Funny Car world championship. This was his 19th career NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series victory and his 10th in a Funny Car since moving to the series in 2017. He becomes just the 18th driver in history to win 10 Nitro Funny Car events.
“It was nice to put our DHL Toyota Camry in the winner’s circle,” said Todd. “Our goal every week is to show up and win. 2021 is a new year and it’s a good way to start off the season with a win here at one of the biggest races of the year. Now we need to ride that momentum as long as we can. This is one you want to check off the list when you see the schedule whether it’s the first race or the third race. It’s the first time this has ever been the first race of the season and I guess we’re the points leader until we get out west.”
Getting the Gatornationals win secured his place in history as a “Grand Slam” NHRA event winner.
“To be able to win all the majors that are on the schedule, that’s pretty awesome,” said Todd. “This is Don Garlits country. When you think of the Gatornationals you think of all the legends of the sport that have done well here. Connie (team owner Kalitta) has won this race and I lost my really good friend Eric Medlen here, so it’s a pretty special event for me. For whatever reason, I’ve always had terrible luck here in the past. It’s nice to finally turn that around for the DHL Toyota guys.”
Today’s win was the third for a Kalitta Motorsports Nitro entry in the last four Gatornationals. Richie Crampton previously won in Top Fuel in 2018 and 2019. For the 2018 Funny Car world champion this weekend and the start of the 2021 NHRA season are steps back towards normalcy that disappeared just over a year ago prior to this race.
“The crowd today looked more like a normal crowd that we’re used to seeing in Gainesville,” said Todd. “I hope this is a sign of things to come in the future so we can run all of the events on the schedule and we can get fans back in the stands because they are the ones that make this happen. I have a lot of friends from my hometown of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, that came down here and it felt great to put our DHL Toyota into the winner’s circle in front of them.”
In the first round Todd had to race Blake Alexander and the Jim Head tuned Funny Car. Todd set the tone for his day with a dominant 3.933 second run dramatically quicker than his best qualifying effort and one of the strongest runs of the first round.
In the quarterfinals Todd outran veteran driver Tim Wilkerson and set himself up with lane choice over two-time Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon. In the quarterfinal race with Wilkerson Todd grabbed a starting line advantage and never trailed in the race posting a winning time of 3.940 seconds.
The semifinal race against Pedregon continued to show how well the DHL Toyota Camry was dialed in to track conditions and optimal performance. As the No. 6 qualifier he was facing the No. 7 qualifier in the semis and Todd took the win with a 3.970 pass.
The final round against Robert Hight was a race Gatornationals fans will be talking about for years to come. Todd took a starting line advantage but almost immediately his Goodyears overpowered the track. Luckily, Todd did not panic and right after he experienced his issue Hight also lost traction. Todd was able to gather control of his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and he mashed on the throttle repeatedly to get his race car to hook up and he blast to victory.
“It was a little warm and the sun was on the track and at this place, the later in the day with the sun out, the track can just get hot and nasty,” said Todd. “That was definitely the case in the final. The starting line wasn’t as good as it was early and we both blew the tires off. I thought for sure that he was going to be driving away from us. I never saw him and just rolled back onto the throttle and was able to go all the way down with it and turn on the win light. It’s pretty special to do here in Gainesville.”
It was a classic pedalfest and Todd’s skill behind the wheel was once again evident on the race track.
“My first Funny Car win came on a pedalfest at Sonoma back in 2017. We don’t get a lot of practice to do that. It just comes with seat time. It was more lucky than anything,” added Todd.
Quotable:
J.R. Todd on defeating Robert Hight in John Force Racing’s return to racing: “Everybody out there in Funny Car is tough, but in my opinion, Robert Hight is the best driver in the category and that team sets the benchmark for the rest of us. When you beat them in the final round, you feel like you really accomplished something.”
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH J.R. Todd 6 .077 3.933 327.35 (W)
Blake Alexander 11 .073 4.032 318.99
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH J.R. Todd 6 .074 3.940 320.05 (W)
Tim Wilkerson 3 .085 3.977 325.53
Semifinals
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH J.R. Todd 6 .082 3.970 322.58 (W)
Cruz Pedregon 7 .081 4.781 171.03
Finals
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH J.R. Todd 6 .075 5.184 286.38 (W)
Robert Hight 4 .085 6.591 144.41
Shawn Langdon and DHL Top Fuel Team Runners-Up at Gatornationals
Shawn Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster team had a strong performance at the 52nd annual NHRA Gatornationals. The 2020 U.S. Nationals champion qualified No. 6 and carried confidence into the first round at the historic national event. The championship winning driver was looking for his first Gatornationals win and the final piece to his own NHRA “”Grand Slam.” Langdon already captured career wins at the Winternationals and Auto Club Finals along with his two Top Fuel Indy wins.
His quest began with a strong win over journeyman Doug Foley in the first round. Langdon took advantage of improved weather conditions due to an earlier than usual start time. He jumped off the starting line with a .049 reaction time and lit up the scoreboard with a winning time of 3.752 seconds. Foley was right with Langdon posting a 3.801 second run in a losing effort.
In the quarterfinals Langdon faced a tough opponent in Leah Pruett. In a very close race Langdon took his second win light with a strong 3.764 elapsed time on a rapidly warming track. The DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster was showing a consistency that could pave the way to victory.
The semifinal race was another tough race facing three-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown. Langdon grabbed a slight starting line advantage and never trailed in the race. It was his 300th round win and advanced him to his first Gatornationals final round.
After watching his teammate J.R. Todd win his first Gatornationals Funny Car title Langdon was poised to contribute to the first Kalitta Motorsports double up win. This was the 16th opportunity to get a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at the same event. In a close race Langdon came up just short to rookie Josh Hart in the final. At 600 feet his Top Fuel dragster hazed the tires and allowed Hart to drive past him for the win.
"We had a great car all day. I felt like we were going to get the win,” said Langdon. “I think we just had a little too much in the final. Congrats to Josh Hart. I can't say enough about this DHL team. We were looking for that double up win. I am very happy for J.R. and his DHL Funny Car team. This was a great day for Kalitta Motorsports. We are leaving the Gatornationals No. 1 in Funny Car and No. 2 in Top Fuel."
Langdon will leave the Gatornationals No. 2 in the Camping World Top Fuel point standings.
Quotable:
Langdon on opening 2021 season: “This was a great first event. There was a good crowd and the racing was very competitive. This DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster performed very well and I am excited about the start of the season.”
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Shawn Langdon 6 .049 3.752 320.36 (W)
Doug Foley 11 .080 3.801 322.38
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Shawn Langdon 6 .065 3.764 317.79 (W)
Leah Pruett 3 .054 3.887 294.05
Semifinals
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Shawn Langdon 6 .056 3.821 318.39 (W)
Antron Brown 10 .062 4.450 182.96
Finals
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Shawn Langdon 6 .068 4.244 219.08
Josh Hart 8 .026 3.826 323.66 (W)
Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Race to Gatornationals Quarterfinals
Doug Kalitta was looking for his fourth season-opening victory today at the 52nd annual NHRA Gatornationals. The previous three seasons Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster have captured wins at the Wintenationals in Pomona, California. No driver other than Kalitta has achieved that feat and he was looking to extend his success this season on the east coast.
His qualifying performance showed that he was in a strong position to win his fourth Gatornationals title as he entered the race in the No. 4 qualifying position. The championship runner-up earned four qualifying bonus points for his efforts. Right off the trailer Kalitta posted the second quickest runs of the first and second qualifying sessions.
In the opening round Kalitta took out Arthur Allen with a solid 3.746 second pass to advance to a second round race against Justin Ashley. Kalitta was giving up lane choice to the 2020 Rookie of the Year but his team felt good about their chances.
In the quarterfinal round Kalitta and Ashley staged and as the Christmas Tree flashed the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster leapt off the starting line first. As Kalitta accelerated his dragster immediately overpowered the starting line and Kalitta was forced to watch Ashley race to the round win.
"I am not sure what happened in the second round,” said Kalitta. “This Mac Tools Toyota dragster was so consistent all weekend. I am excited about getting the season started and we were trying to keep that season-opening win streak alive. We will get back in the shop and figure out the issue. We are leaving the Gators in the Top Ten and we will be ready to go for the next race.”
Kalitta will head to the next race sitting No. 7 in the Top Fuel point standings.
Quotable:
Doug Kalitta on season opening at Gatornationals: “This is Don Garlits’ home track and there is so much history here. I would have liked to have won this race for a fourth time but our Mac Tools dragster is running strong and that will keep us going to the next race.”
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.746 sec., 320.97 mph)
Bonus points: +4 (2nd quickest of Q1 and Q2)
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Doug Kalitta 4 .083 3.746 309.20 (W)
Arthur Allen 13 .136 6.093 102.46
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH Doug Kalitta 4 .040 7.895 84.83
Justin Ashley 12 .058 3.833 321.81 (W)
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