TOYOTA NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Five Toyota drivers will begin their quest for an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series World Championship this weekend in Charlotte.  In Top Fuel, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon are all in contention, while J.R. Todd and Cruz Pedregon are in the hunt for a Funny Car title.

Below is a look at each driver’s playoff background and their thoughts on the upcoming Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

TOP FUEL

Antron Brown, Matco Tools Toyota dragster
Countdown To the Championship Seed: #2
Countdown Appearances: 10
Top Countdown Finish: 1st – 2012, 2015, 2016
Playoff Wins: 14

Antron Brown on the Countdown: “This Matco Tools/Toyota team isn’t done yet. We’ve got six races for a championship and we are right in the thick of things. We like our chances. We are never going to give up. We are going to press really, really hard so that we can get as many of those little qualifying points during the Countdown. We are never going to quit. And we are going to raise the bar. And that’s what it’s time to do right now. We are very eager and hungry to go to Charlotte right now.?”

Notes:
– Has has won 11 of the last 30 Countdown races.
– Has qualified for all 10 Countdowns since the playoffs inception in 2008.
– His 14 career Countdown wins are the most by any Top Fuel driver

Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools/Toyota dragster
Countdown to the Championship Seed: #5
Countdown Appearances: 10
Top Countdown Finish: 2nd – 2016
Playoff Wins: 3

Doug Kalitta on the Countdown: “We work all year to be ready for the Countdown.  It’s critical to be on your game on the starting line and having the car run as well as possible.  It all boils down to lead, follow or get out of the way at this point.”

Notes:
– Won the most recent Countdown race in the 2016 season-ending NHRA Finals at Pomona
– Has qualified for all 10 Countdowns since the playoffs inception in 2008.

Shawn Langdon, Global Electronic Technology Toyota dragster
Countdown to the Championship Seed: #10
Countdown Appearances: 9
Top Countdown Finish: 1st – 2013
Playoff Wins: 5

Shawn Langdon on the Countdown: “We’re excited about the Countdown and to get to the races that matter the most. You work all year for this. All bets are off once the Countdown starts.”

Notes:
– Has qualified for the Countdown in each of his nine seasons in Top Fuel
– Qualified for this year’s Countdown despite missing the season’s first four races

J.R. Todd, DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car
Countdown to the Championship Seed: #8
Countdown Appearances: 5
Top Countdown Finish: 2nd – 2014 (Top Fuel)
Countdown Wins: 0

J.R. Todd on the Countdown: “We have a shot in the Countdown. These DHL Toyota guys showed in 2015, you’ve just got to get hot at the right time. I feel we can compete with these guys out here. When it comes to the cool conditions in qualifying, the guys at JFR and DSR can throw down those big numbers and we aren’t quite there yet. On race day, the DHL guys have shown it’s a different story, especially when the sun comes out and it gets hot. So if the Countdown is in conditions like that – and I hope that it is – I really think we can run with these guys.  I think our DHL Toyota Camry is going in the right direction at the right time of year – and now it’s time to let it all hang out for the next six races.”

Notes:
– Enters the Countdown with two wins in the last four races

Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Toyota Camry Funny Car
Countdown to the Championship Seed: #10
Countdown Appearances: 7
Top Countdown Finish: 1st – 2008
(also won 1992 Funny Car championship pre-Countdown)
Playoff Wins: 6

Cruz Pedregon on the Countdown: “We’re looking at a new chassis for the Countdown and really trying to take a run at it. I’ve won the championship twice and there’s no reason we can’t get it together and be a factor.”