<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/JR_headshot1.jpg" alt="JR_headshot1" align="left"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. (8/12/06) -- Crew chief Jimmy Walsh made some changes to the SKULL Shine Top Fuel dragster before its fourth qualifying run Saturday and J.R.Todd put it 12th in the starting for Sunday's Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
"We made a decent run," said Todd, a winner at two of the last three NHRA POWERade Series races, "but Jimmy and Dexter (Tuttle, team owner) think the car wanted more, so he stepped it up some more for Sunday. We're in the show and that's all that matters. We know we can win from anywhere."
Todd's first Saturday attempt was foiled by loose screws on the back of the battery used to start the ignition system. "When we went to start it, the battery couldn't start the motor," he said. "We really wanted to make that run but we're glad it happened then instead of Sunday.
"We expected more (than 4.685 seconds at 309.91 mph), but the car did go down the track."
Todd, in his rookie year, won at Denver (July 16) and Sonoma, Calif. (July 30).
Rookie Top Fuel Driver Qualifies 12th for Lucas Oil Nationals
BRAINERD, Minn. (8/12/06) -- Crew chief Jimmy Walsh made some changes to the SKULL Shine Top Fuel dragster before its fourth qualifying run Saturday and J.R.Todd put it 12th in the starting for Sunday's Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
"We made a decent run," said Todd, a winner at two of the last three NHRA POWERade Series races, "but Jimmy and Dexter (Tuttle, team owner) think the car wanted more, so he stepped it up some more for Sunday. We're in the show and that's all that matters. We know we can win from anywhere."
Todd's first Saturday attempt was foiled by loose screws on the back of the battery used to start the ignition system. "When we went to start it, the battery couldn't start the motor," he said. "We really wanted to make that run but we're glad it happened then instead of Sunday.
"We expected more (than 4.685 seconds at 309.91 mph), but the car did go down the track."
Todd, in his rookie year, won at Denver (July 16) and Sonoma, Calif. (July 30).
