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Post-Race Report
Event 14: NHRA Reading Nationals
Race 1 of 7 Countdown races
Maple Grove Raceway
Reading, PA
September 12, 2021
J.R. Todd Starts Countdown with Semifinal Finish in Reading
With one race down in the 2021 NHRA Countdown J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Camry team held their spot in the top group of Funny Cars with a semifinal finish today at the NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Todd was the No. 8 qualifier and came into race day with a solid run in the final qualifying session buoying his team’s chances for success today. In the afternoon heat his Toyota Funny Car ran 3.916 seconds at 330.31 mph during Saturday’s second qualifier.
“That run last night we needed it earlier in the weekend to set us up better for qualifying,” said Todd. “All in all we have a good consistent hot rod. We made some good runs today on race day.”
In the first round against Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria, the No. 9 qualifier, Todd’s DHL Funny Car was able to duplicate their best qualifying effort for the round win. Todd grabbed a slight starting line advantage and never trailed in the race getting to the finish line in 3.919 seconds. It was almost a mirror image of his best qualifying effort and set the team up for the quarterfinals.
“I don’t know where the points are going to shake out, but it is still pretty tight,” said Todd, who leaves Reading only 39 points out of first place. “You want to go to the later rounds no matter what and not put yourself in a hole. Ideally, it would be nice to win and come out of here on top or towards the top. We will go to Charlotte and fight it out. I think it is going to be a battle all the way down to the end between a pack of cars. I just want to be in that pack when it comes down to Pomona.”
In the second round Todd took out the No. 1 qualifier with another strong run. He was first off the line and again never trailed in the race catapulting his DHL team to the semifinals for the sixth time this season. The scoreboard lit up 3.931 seconds at 328.86 mph and set up a showdown with Tommy Johnson Jr., in the semis.
In one of the closest races of the day Todd was barely outrun by Johnson’s Funny Car losing 3.905 seconds to 3.902 seconds. The reactions times were comparable, and it was just a close race that did not go the 2018 Reading Nationals winner and 2018 Funny Car champion’s way.
“I like racing as much as possible which is why I like this time of year,” said Todd. “It is all about getting momentum, getting on a roll and staying hot. I am glad we get to go back at it in a couple days.”
Todd entered the race as the No. 4 driver and will leave in the No. 4 spot without losing ground to the cars in front of him but creating separation on the cars behind him.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 8 (3.916 sec, 330.31 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
J.R. Todd 8 .057 3.919 332.75 (W)
Alexis DeJoria 7 .076 3.999 316.67
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
J.R. Todd 8 .068 3.931 328.86 (W)
Cruz Pedregon 1 .083 3.981 315.86
Semifinal Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
J.R. Todd 8 .078 3.905 332,75
Tommy Johnson Jr. 4 .059 3.902 331.53 (W)
Langdon Races Bounty Hunter Tribute Top Fuel Dragster to Quarterfinals
Racing the Connie Kalitta “Bounty Hunter” tribute DHL Top Fuel dragster for the second race in a row had Shawn Langdon eager to make the most of the first Countdown race. The gold and white retro look dragster was once again the talk of the pit area for three days at Maple Grove Raceway. After two days of qualifying Langdon entered eliminations as the No. 11 qualifier.
In the first round giving up lane choice to his opponent Langdon knew he would need to have a complete package to get the round win. The conditions were warmer than the qualifying days and the Bounty Hunter tribute racecar that is tuned by Connie Kalitta and Kurt Elliott made the correct adjustments.
Langdon was first off the line and never trailed in the drag race. His reaction time advantage got his Top Fuel dragster out in front, and it held on for the win running 3.751 seconds at 318. 54 mph against a slightly quicker elapsed time from the car in the other lane which ran 3.750 seconds. The hole shot win advanced Langdon to the quarterfinals and also helped him keep pace with the rest of the top Countdown competitors.
In the second round racing the No. 5 qualifier and eventual race winner, Billy Torrence, Langdon once again took a sizeable starting line advantage based on his reaction time. In this round however Langdon held the lead most of the race but began hazing the tires just before the finish line opening the door for Torrence to sneak around him.
“That was a big win in the first round racing another Countdown racecar that was right behind us in the points,” said Langdon. “We would have liked to have gone further today but it was great to get this Bounty Hunter tribute car a round win and some good numbers. We will take this info we gathered this weekend and head to Charlotte. That will be the next big race and we will look to get more round wins there and move up in the points.”
With six more playoff races on the schedule Langdon and his DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel team will be looking to move up the points. Currently the 2013 Top Fuel champion is in seventh place.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 11 (3.813 sec, 321.27 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Shawn Langdon 11 .051 3.751 318.54 (W)
Mike Salinas 4 .095 3.750 304.32
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Shawn Langdon 11 .052 3.797 302.89
Billy Torrence 5 .072 3.719 329.18 (W)
Kalitta and Mac Tools Head to Charlotte Looking to Make Move in Countdown
Doug Kalitta came into the Reading NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway looking to close the gap on the rest of the Countdown field. Two years ago, the perennial championship contender raced to the final round before losing to his teammate Richie Crampton. This weekend after three rounds of qualifying the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster advanced into race day as the No. 9 qualifier on the strength of his 3.743 second run at 325.69 mph. Earlier on Saturday Kalitta posted a 3.780 second pass and the team went to work to improve that package for the final session.
In the first round Kalitta drew No. 6 qualifier Justin Ashley, the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year. The Mac Tools dragster and Kalitta got the jump off the starting line and both 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragsters were welded together heading down the racetrack. At the finish line both racecars crossed at over 320 mph, but it was Ashley getting the nose of his dragster out in front for the win. The Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster stepped up its performance to make its quickest and fastest run of the weekend, a solid 3.768 second run at 321.81 mph.
“That was another close race for this Mac Tools team,” said Kalitta, a 49-time national event winner. “There are six more races in the Countdown, and we will be in Charlotte in a couple days working on getting more round wins to move up in the points. There is no quit in this Mac Tools team so we will be ready for the next race.”
Heading to the DeWalt NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway Kalitta will hold his position in the Top Fuel Top Ten.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 9 (3.743 sec, 325.69 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Doug Kalitta 9 .065 3.768 321.81
Justin Ashley 6 .067 3.703 328.62 (W)
Unofficial NHRA Camping World Championship Standings:
Top Fuel
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