J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota Funny Car Know Countdown Move Can Happen at Fall Nationals

Ennis, TX – Three races into the 2021 NHRA Countdown and J.R. Todd and his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car are right in the thick of the Funny Car championship battle. The 2018 Funny Car champion could use a long race day at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals to move up in the points and put pressure on the rest of the Funny Car field. He has had one of the most consistent race cars all season and his ability to avoid early exits has paid dividends throughout the 2021 season. The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals will also mark a significant milestone for the racer from Indiana as he enters his 100th Funny Car race. His win at the season opening Gatornationals put him briefly in the points lead and since the beginning of the Countdown has been within striking distance once again as the season begins to wind down.

“The Funny Car class has been close all season,” said Todd, a nineteen time national event winner in Funny Car and Top Fuel. “A lot of guys have had the points lead this season and since the start of the Countdown it seems like there is a new points leader after race. If we can keep going rounds on Sunday and knock out some of these Countdown cars will be in a good position for the final races of the playoffs.”

Todd won at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in 2008 when he was behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster and six years later, he posted a runner-up finish at the fall classic. In 2018 his championship season he raced to the final but did not get the elusive fourth win light. He did prevail for the championship that season and he is looking to try and recapture some of that momentum this weekend.

“We got on a roll in 2018 and the runner-up at the Fall Nationals was part of that successful run,” said Todd. “We have four more races this season and I feel really good about how this DHL Toyota Camry can perform at each of those tracks. It all starts this weekend at the Texas Motorplex.”

Todd will spend Thursday evening signing autographs for fans at the Fan Fest event in downtown Waxahachie from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The former junior dragster driver will take full advantage of the four qualifying sessions before final eliminations get underway at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

2020 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 8; Beat Paul Lee; Lost to Matt Hagan

Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA Midwest Nationals): Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Matt Hagan

Career Stats: 251 events, 243 starts, 276 round wins, 19 wins, 39 finals, 14 No. 1 qualifiers; in Funny Car: 99 events, 99 starts, 10 wins, 19 finals, 128 round wins, 5 No. 1 qualifiers

2021 Season:
Gatornationals: WINNER; Qual. No. 6; Beat Blake Alexander, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Robert Hight
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 9; Beat Cruz Pedregon and Jonnie Lindberg; Lost to Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III
Atlanta: Qual. No. 1; Beat Alexis DeJoria, bye; Lost to John Force
Charlotte1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No.4; Beat Terry Haddock, Jim Campbell, Tim Wilkerson; Beat Mike McIntire, Terry Haddock; Lost to John Force, Beat Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria
Houston: Qual. No. 8; Beat John Force; Lost to Bob Tasca III
Epping: Qual. No. 9; Beat Cruz Pedregon, Lost to John Force
Norwalk: Qual. No. 9; Beat Mike McIntire, Lost to Ron Capps
Denver: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Bob Tasca III
Sonoma: Qual. No. 12; Beat John Force; Lost to Robert Hight
Pomona1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 7; Beat Jeff Diehl, Robert Hight, Jim Campbell; Lost to Ron Capps
Topeka: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 1; Beat Bye, Ron Capps, Blake Alexander; Lost to John Force
Brainerd: Qual. No. 11; Beat Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 5; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Reading: Qual. No. 7; Beat Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Charlotte2: Qual. No. 6; Beat Mike McIntire; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
St. Louis: Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Matt Hagan