TODD, KALITTA LEAD TOYOTA IN NHRA ATLANTA QUALIFYING

COMMERCE, GA – J.R. Todd placed second in Funny Car, while Doug Kalitta was third in Top Fuel to lead Toyota in qualifying for Sunday’s Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals at the Atlanta Dragway.

Todd, the reigning Funny Car world champion, was the top qualifier after Friday’s sessions and then was second-quick in Saturday’s first session to earn five bonus points before rain washed out the weekend’s final qualifying run. Overall, five different Toyota drivers earned bonus points for running in the top three of a session, combining for 14 points.

“I know going into a race that I’ve got a great DHL Toyota team behind me that can adapt to the conditions,” said Todd, who will square off with Jim Campbell in Sunday’s opening round. “It was sketchy on Friday night. With the rain and the humidity, it was tricky and we hit it right and a lot of other people didn’t. We ran well again today and we’ve got a good starting position for tomorrow. Now we need to get ready for race day and more changing conditions and try to bring home another Wally.”

Todd’s Kalitta Motorsports Funny Car teammate Shawn Langdon drove his Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry to the top run in Friday’s opening round to earn three bonus points on the way to qualifying sixth overall. He will match-up with Ron Capps in round one. Between Todd and Langdon, a Camry ran first or second in all three sessions.

In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta continued his strong 2019 run, placing in the top three in two of the three sessions on the way to qualifying third. He will open eliminations against Shawn Reed. Richie Crampton rounded out the four Kalitta Motorsports drivers by qualifying seventh and will match-up with Scott Palmer on Sunday.

Antron Brown earned bonus points for a top-three run in two of the three sessions and earned a total of four bonus points. Unfortunately for the three-time world champion, the one run he was unable to get down the track clean was Friday night’s session that featured the coolest temperatures and quickest times. He ended up placing ninth overall and races Clay Millican on Sunday.

FS1’s NHRA Sunday Live will air at 11:30 a.m., while Sunday’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations will be televised on FS1 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (EDT).