REIGNING FUNNY CAR CHAMP TODD NO. 1 AFTER FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING AT ATLANTA

Writen by Tracy Renck, photo by Roger Richards    Sat, 2019-05-04 08:00

 

J.R. Todd has great talent and he shows it every weekend while behind the wheel of his Kalitta Motorsports DHL Toyota.

Todd, the reigning nitro Funny Car Mello Yello Series world champ, was in top form Friday at the 39th annual Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals near Atlanta.

Todd clocked a 3.944-second elapsed time at 323.50 to grab the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot.

“This gives me a lot of confidence as a driver,” Todd said. “But I know going into a race that I have a great team behind me. They can adapt to different conditions and that’s what makes (crew chiefs) Todd Smith and Jon O (Oberhofer) so special. It was sketchy out there (Friday night). For one, I struggle driving when it is dark and then you bring in the humidity and moisture of the track, I had my hands full down track. We were lucky to hang on and I think we just hit it right and a lot of people just messed up.”

Todd has yet to qualify No. 1 this season and he has 10 No. 1 qualifiers in his career. He arrived in Atlanta tied for fourth in the points.

On Thursday night, May 2, Todd experienced a memorable moment when he received his 2018 championship ring at Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta.

“Every race is the same,” said Todd when asked if there was any extra pressure on him. “The only pressure I feel is whatever I put on myself as a driver. That was a cool deal (Thursday night) to be able to get a ring and jacket from past champions and guys you looked up to as a kid. It was pretty cool, and I have to thank Coke for allowing us to do that. It would definitely be special to win their home event.”

Last week in Charlotte, N.C., Todd’s teammate Shawn Langdon won his first career nitro Funny Car NHRA national event. Todd took a moment to describe the emotions he had for Langdon.

“I was pretty hurt most of the day because I felt like we let one get away there,” Todd said. “We definitely should have won, but if we are not going to win then those guys better win. Looking back on it, it lined up where he (Shawn) needed to win, especially with everything going on with his dad. He was having a tough go in Funny Car and wasn’t catching a break. We all know he’s a great driver and finally they broke through and Del (Worsham) got his first win as a crew chief and I think they are going to have a lot of success, for sure.”

 

 
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