Arizona Nationals Title Up For Grabs for J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota GR Supra Team
Phoenix, AZ – With a brand-new DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car 2018 world champion J.R. Todd is looking to add NHRA Arizona 
Nationals Funny Car winner to his list of accomplishments to start the season. In 2019 he recorded a runner-up finish after a bizarre final round. Heading into the last session with lane choice after an impressive 3.919 second run in the semifinals Todd’s racecar backfired as soon as he stepped on the throttle pedal and immediately deployed the parachutes.
“We had one get away from us a few years ago,” said Todd. “I am looking forward to getting back to Phoenix. We had a good test session with the new Supra and every run I feel like we get better.”
The Toyota GR Super Funny Car was unveiled at the season finale in 2021 and received rave reviews on its stylish design. Over the off-season Kalitta Motorsports and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America spent a weekend in Florida shaking the race car down in advance of the 2022 NHRA season. Their hard work paid off with daily improvements during the PRO Nitro Spring Training event two weeks ago. Todd and the DHL Supra posted some of the quickest times in the category.
“I am so glad we tested in Florida because we figured a lot of little things out,” said Todd. “The Toyota Gazoo Racing guys have been amazing. There are so many little and big details you must figure out when you bring out a completely new Funny Car. I can see so much better in this DHL Funny Car and it is an amazing race car to drive.”
Last season Todd started the year with a resounding victory at the Gatornationals and raced to four more final rounds. The DHL Funny Car was in the championship hunt until the end of the season. The tight Funny Car battle looks to continue in 2022 as Todd and Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria will be racing the new Supra Funny Cars against a tough field of veterans.
“This Funny Car class has really stepped it up in the last couple of years,” said Todd. “It seems like there are about 10 or 11 drivers that really have a shot at the championship. We want to be in that mix and I feel confident (crew chiefs) Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer will give me a Toyota Supra Funny Car that can turn on a lot of win lights this year.”
With qualifying starting on Friday afternoon and two more sessions on Saturday. Todd is looking to put the team in the best position to go rounds when eliminations start at 11 a.m. local time on Sunday.
“I am always excited at the beginning of the season,” said Todd. “You can’t get overly excited just because of how you did in testing. There are a lot of good cars and you really don’t know who is doing what. We have been making good runs and this Supra is going down the track.”
2020 NHRA Arizona Nationals Highlights (event not contested in 2021): Qual. No. 9; Lost to Ron Capps
Last Event Recap (2022 Winternationals): Qual 8; Beat Bobby Bode; Lost to Ron Capps
Career Stats: 256 events, 248 starts, 282 round wins, 19 wins, 40 finals, 14 No. 1 qualifiers; In Funny Car: 104 events, 104 starts, 10 wins, 20 finals, 134 round wins, 5 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual 8; Beat Bobby Bode; Lost to Ron Capps
