Todd, Brown Top Toyotas in NHRA Indy Nationals Qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – J.R. Todd qualified fifth in Funny Car, while Antron Brown placed seventh in Top Fuel to lead Toyota into Sunday’s NHRA Indy Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Todd made the second-quickest run of Saturday’s second session with a 4.004 second pass at 317.05 mph and earned two bonus points for his effort. It marks the third consecutive race that the DHL Toyota Camry driver has qualified in the top-five.

“We made two good solid runs in the DHL Camry today,” said Todd, a two-time U.S. Nationals winner in Indianapolis. “We were second in Q2 and picked up two bonus points. It sets us up pretty good for tomorrow’s eliminations.”

Todd will face fellow Toyota driver Mike McIntire in Sunday’s first round after McIntire qualified 12th.  Alexis DeJoria rounds out the Camry contingent in 16th and will race pole-sitter Tommy Johnson Jr. in round one.

Brown ran a 3.868 second pass at 311.41 mph to earn the seventh seed for tomorrow. He’ll take on Justin Ashley in his opening match-up.

“The day started out with a good lap,” said Brown. “We made a solid opening lap, nice and smooth going down the track. That second lap we were just trying to go for number one like all the teams. We’ll pick it up tomorrow morning and we’ll be racing at 10 a.m. and the track should be stellar and we need to be ready. We race Justin Ashley and that car is a tough competitor. They were in the final round at the last race. We have lane choice. We’ll go up there and do what we do. We had a great test session early this week at St. Louis. We know it’s going to take a mid-3.70 to win that first round and we’ll give it all we got.”

Doug Kalitta qualified 12th and will face Cory McClenthan in round one, while Shawn Langdon will start from the 14th spot and will square off with Leah Pruett.

Sunday’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations will be televised on FOX, with coverage scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

Toyota NHRA Indy Nationals Qualifying

Funny Car – Qualified/1st Round Opponent – Quick Time (Bonus Points)

J.R. Todd – 5th/McIntire – 4.004/317.05 (2)

Mike McIntire – 12th/Todd – 4.288/223.99

Alexis DeJoria – 16th/Johnson – 5.134/145.62

Top Fuel – Qualified/1st Round Opponent – Quick Time (Bonus Points)

Antron Brown – 7th/Ashley – 3.868/311.41

Doug Kalitta – 12th/McClenathan – 4.007/275.46

Shawn Langdon –14th/Pruett – 4.187/216.69