Post-Race Report
NHRA Norwalk Nationals
Race 10 of 22 national events
Summit Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio
June 26, 2022
J.R. Todd Takes DHL Toyota Supra to Semifinals in Norwalk
The DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team and driver J.R. Todd took advantage of two days of solid qualifying at the NHRA Norwalk Nationals and raced to a semifinal finish today at Summit Motorsports Park. The 2018 NHRA Funny Car world champion started from the No. 7 spot in qualifying and raced to the final four.
In the first round Todd took on Blake Alexander and his Head Racing Funny Car. Conditions were steadily changing throughout the session with the sun peeking out providing a challenging environment for the crew chiefs to work their magic. Todd stepped up with his quickest run of the weekend a solid 3.903 second run at over 330 mph to take the round win. Todd led from the hit of the throttle until the deployment of his safety parachutes.
The quarterfinal match-up with 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force was a chance for Todd and his DHL Toyota team to get a much-deserved win against a competitor that upended a promising race weekend in Richmond three races ago. Force was the No. 2 qualifier this weekend, but it was Todd who had the upper hand today getting a critical round win and an appearance in the semifinals for the third time this season. Once again Todd was first off the line and never trailed in the race posting a winning time of 3.953 seconds at 329.34 mph in front of a tire smoking Force.
In the semifinals Todd was taking on the second John Force Racing Funny Car driven by Robert Hight. In one of the closest races of the day Todd make another clean run, 3.916 seconds at 329.75 mph beside Hight’s 3.890 second run. At the finish line Hight got the nose of his Funny Car out in front for the win but it was Todd who felt like the strides made this weekend would pay dividends soon.
“The car went down the track every run this weekend, that’s something that we struggled with all season-long – with just not being very consistent,” said Todd, who has 10 Funny Car national event wins. “We figured something out this weekend because we were making consistent runs, just a tick behind Robert there in the semis, but all-in-all a good weekend for our DHL Toyota GR Supra.”
Doug Kalitta Races to Quarterfinals at Norwalk Nationals with SealMaster
Racing in front of teammates and support staff from the Kalitta Motorsports headquarters in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Doug Kalitta and the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster continued to improve and showcase their strong performance numbers. They qualified No. 6 continuing a streak of solid top half of the field qualifying efforts. Their quickest run coming into race day was a 3.759 second pass at 328.46 mph which was only bested by five other Top Fuel teams.
In the opening round against veteran Antron Brown Kalitta dominated the race taking the lead off the starting line and pulling away for the win with a weekend quickest pass of 3.736 seconds at 330.23 mph. Kalitta jumped off the line with a strong .057 second reaction time that gave his SealMaster Mac Tools Toyota dragster a lead it would never relinquish.
“That win in the first round was big for this SealMaster team,” said Kalitta. “Those guys are a tough team, and we are looking to move up in the Top Ten and get ready for the Countdown. (Crew chiefs) Alan (Johnson) and Brian (Husen) have been doing a great job and it showed this weekend.”
In the quarterfinals Kalitta drew Mike Salinas, the No. 3 qualifier, and he knew the race would be a clash of two of the best teams on the circuit. Once again Kalitta made a solid run crossing the finish line with a 3.776 second elapsed time on a track that was heating up throughout the day. In the lane next to him Salinas had just a slight advantage with a 3.771 second pass to race to the win.
“We made a lot of good runs this weekend with this SealMaster Toyota dragster,” said Kalitta. “We had a lot of folks from our shop in the pits, so I am glad we gave them a good show. This race team is really coming together, and we are seeing better race day results. I am looking forward to the Western Swing in a couple weeks.”
Shawn Langdon and DHL Top Fuel Turn Attention to Western Swing After Norwalk
The DHL Toyota Top Fuel team and Shawn Langdon were racing for their second Top Fuel win at the Norwalk Nationals this weekend. Through two days of qualifying Langdon powered to the No. 9 qualifying position at Summit Motorsports Park. Consistent times through four rounds of qualifying had the 2013 Top Fuel world champion and most recent Top Fuel finalist from the Thunder Valley Nationals confident more round wins were around the corner.
In the opening round of racing Langdon was facing Gatornationals winner and No. 8 qualifier Tripp Tatum looking to advance to the quarterfinals. Langdon took a huge starting line advantage with one of the quickest reaction times of any Top Fuel driver in the first round, .056 to .101. He was flying down the track in his DHL dragster and he was holding his own against Tatum but as the finish line closed in Tatum’s 3.732 second time was quick enough to get the win over Langdon’s 3.793 second run. Both dragsters hit the finish line at over 320 mph and the margin of victory for Langdon’s opponent was about eight feet.
“I am glad we are making consistent runs,” said Langdon. “We raced to the semifinals and finals in the past two races. We are moving in the right direction.”
The DHL Toyota Top Fuel team will recharge and regroup to take on the historic Western Swing in two weeks.
Unofficial NHRA Camping World Championship Standings:
Top Fuel
1 Mike Salinas 821
2 Brittany Force 809
3 Steve Torrence 712
4 Justin Ashley 711
5 Austin Prock 513
6 Josh Hart 509
7 Shawn Langdon 467
8 Clay Millican 462
9 Doug Kalitta 459
10 Leah Pruett 417
Funny Car
1 Robert Hight 929
2 Matt Hagan 908
3 Ron Capps 829
4 John Force 655
5 Cruz Pedregon 561
6 Bob Tasca III 517
7 J.R. Todd 509
8 Alexis DeJoria 490
9 Tim Wilkerson 443
10 Chad Green 408
Top Fuel
1 Mike Salinas 821
2 Brittany Force 809
3 Steve Torrence 712
4 Justin Ashley 711
5 Austin Prock 513
6 Josh Hart 509
7 Shawn Langdon 467
8 Clay Millican 462
9 Doug Kalitta 459
10 Leah Pruett 417
Funny Car
1 Robert Hight 929
2 Matt Hagan 908
3 Ron Capps 829
4 John Force 655
5 Cruz Pedregon 561
6 Bob Tasca III 517
7 J.R. Todd 509
8 Alexis DeJoria 490
9 Tim Wilkerson 443
10 Chad Green 408
About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Camping World Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. Celebrating over 60 years of Kalitta Motorsports, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with seven world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
