DHL and J.R. Todd Focused on Indy Success
Indianapolis – Back to back racing weekends in Indianapolis have DHL Toyota Camry driver J.R. Todd excited to get the NHRA Mello Yello 
Drag Racing Series restarted. After a slow start at the first two events in February Todd and his DHL team came out swinging at the NHRA National event last weekend qualifying No. 4 and racing to a semifinal finish. The strong finish moved Todd into the Funny Car Top Ten and also has him just under two round wins from the Top Five.
“It was good to go some rounds on Sunday for sure,” said Todd. “I know my guys worked hard over the time we had off to look at a few things and we all have a new chassis. We tested on Thursday and Friday leading up to the race but there is really no substitute for the pressure of a race weekend. We did a really good job all things considered.”
The new race format of two qualifying sessions and then a race on Sunday didn’t faze Todd and his DHL Toyota team. They came off the trailer on Saturday and posted one of the quickest times of the first qualifying session. In the second session they held fast and went into race day as one of the four quickest Funny Cars.
“We knew qualifying was going to be important,” said Todd, a two-time U.S. Nationals winner. “(Crew chief) Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer did a great job setting the car up. I had a lot of confidence even with a hot track. The two days of testing also helped. I think we will be even better this weekend. It will be cool to come right back here and race. We had some fans and to be on the FOX national broadcast was big.”
In the last four events contested at Lucas Oil Raceway Todd has two wins and two semifinal finishes. This track is just minutes from his home and has always held a special place for the 2018 Funny Car world champion. As a youngster Todd raced junior dragsters at this facility and in the past three year this race track has become home to some of his most significant wins.
“Winning the U.S. Nationals in 2017 and 2018 was amazing. The 2018 win was huge because it set us up for the run for the Mello Yello championship. We got on a roll after that win and went all the way. I am hoping these two races in Indy get us going in the right direction and we can come back Labor Day weekend and get that third U.S. Nationals win,” added Todd.
Last Event Recap (2020 NHRA Indy1 Nationals): Qual. No. 4; Beat Alex Miladinovich, Alexis DeJoria; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Quotable: J.R. Todd on getting back into race mode: “It was just good to be back at the race track. I missed my crew guys and the rest of the Kalitta Motorsports team. We had a good weekend and I think we will continue to get better. We have a new chassis and I think it is showing Todd (Smith) and Jon (Oberhofer) a lot of promise.”
Career Stats: 227 events, 219 starts, 239 round wins, 18 wins, 33 finals, 12 No. 1 qualifiers; in Funny Car: 75 events, 75 starts, 9 wins, 13 finals, 91 round wins, 3 No. 1 qualifiers
2020 Season:
Winternationals: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Time Wilkerson
Arizona Nationals: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Ron Capps
Indy1 Nationals: Qual. No. 4; Beat Alex Miladinovich, Alexis DeJoria; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
