A DNQ AND A FIRST ROUND LOSS, TOOD IS HOPING FOR REVERSAL OF FIREBIRD FORTUNES 

J.R. Todd has only raced Firebird Raceway twice but to determine that it’s not at the top of his favorites list. Thus far Todd has a DNQ and a first round loss to his credit during the NHRA Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals.

Todd does see a silver lining in this otherwise dark cloud – pre-season testing.

“Yeah, we haven’t had the best luck at Phoenix, but with our results from our preseason testing there, this year might have a different outcome for us,” said the five-time NHRA Top Fuel winner.  “It’s kind of a tricky track with the way the groove is laid out, so now I know what to expect once we get back there this weekend.  It’s my new team with Morgan Lucas Racing and based on the way we ran there in preseason testing, we stand a good shot this weekend.”

We have our confidence back with me driving the car and John Stewart (crew chief & team manager) has his also with a more than a dozen or so laps testing on that car and knows what to expect out of it.  The way Morgan’s car ran in Pomona is definitely the way our car should have been running.  The cars are set up pretty much identical tune-up-wise.  The two crew chiefs are sharing information that transfers between the teams.  Based off our early numbers on our run on that Thursday we were right there with him. - JR Todd

Todd, who experienced a glancing 295-mph blow on his opening round of qualifying at the season-opening Pomona race, lost his primary car in that unfortunate mishap forcing the Torco/Lucas Team to resort to their backup. 

“The plan is to have the new chassis at the track in Phoenix by Wednesday,” said Todd.  “The guys will put it together on Thursday and be ready to hit the track by Friday.  It’s coming from (Brad) Hadman’s shop in Seattle with a new front half and hopefully we’ll pick up where we left off.

“There was definitely a difference with the two chassis that we had run.  The one we stuck in the wall on Thursday at Pomona was the better of the two.”

Having that ‘familiar pipe’ back will bring the self-assurance that placed his name as one of the early season contenders.

“We have our confidence back with me driving the car and John Stewart (crew chief & team manager) has his also with a more than a dozen or so laps testing on that car and knows what to expect out of it.  The way Morgan’s car ran in Pomona is definitely the way our car should have been running.  The cars are set up pretty much identical tune-up-wise.  The two crew chiefs are sharing information that transfers between the teams.  Based off our early numbers on our run on that Thursday we were right there with him.”