J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota GR Supra Fired up for Midwest Nationals
Madison, IL – The race for the 2022 NHRA Funny Car championship will reach a critical turning point this weekend for not just J.R. Todd 
and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team but the entire category still has a shot at reeling in the points leader. Todd, who is sitting in seventh place is just 150 point off the lead and with four races and points and half at the season finale race in Pomona, California, it is still very much anyone’s championship. In 2018 when Todd won his first world championship the driver who came up through the junior dragster ranks before a successful career in Top Fuel made the back half of the Countdown his playground. The Midwest Nationals was the lone event he did not dominate during his championship run but the 10-time Funny Car national event winner knows this track could be the key to his second championship.
“In 2018 we made it to the semifinals at the Midwest Nationals and that kept us in the championship hunt,” said Todd. “A win this weekend could give this DHL Toyota team just the push we need to grab another title. This team is ready for a win and I know we are hungry for the championship.”
In 2019 Todd raced to the final round and squared off with his teammate Shawn Langdon who was in his second year piloting an 11,000 horsepower Funny Car. It was a close race that went Langdon’s way that Sunday. With Langdon back in the Top Fuel ranks Todd has turned his attention to the other tough Funny Car competitors.
“Every race anyone of these Funny Cars is capable of winning the race and that hasn’t always been the case,” said Todd. “There are no easy round wins and even in qualifying times that used to get you in the top four might not get you in the top half this season. It is very tough, but I also love the competition.”
Todd’s DHL Funny Car will be looking to take out as many of his competitors on Sunday to advance in the point standings but also to help Feeding America. Every win light Todd and the DHL team earned Kalitta Motorsports will donate 10,000 meals and DHL will match that donation with an additional 10,000 meals. A win by Todd would mean 80,000 meals would head to Feeding America to help support families across the country battling food insecurity.
The Midwest Nationals will feature three qualifying runs for Todd and the DHL Toyota Funny Car team over Friday and Saturday. The race will begin at 10:30 a.m. with FS1 broadcasting the race nationally.
2021 Midwest Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Matt Hagan
Last Event Recap 2022 Carolina Nationals: Qual. 6; Lost to Alexis DeJoria
Career Stats: 273 events, 265 starts, 298 round wins, 19 wins, 41 finals, 14 No. 1 qualifiers; In Funny Car: 121 events, 121 starts, 10 wins, 21 finals, 149 round wins, 5 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual. 8; Beat Bobby Bode; Lost to Ron Capps
Arizona Nationals: Qual. 8; Lost to Alexis DeJoria
Gatornationals: Qual. 11; Lost to Blake Alexander
Las Vegas1: Qual. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson and Jason Qual. 7; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Robert Hight Rupert; Lost to Ron Capps and Matt Hagan
Houston: Qual. 13; Beat Bob Tasca III, Jim Campbell; Lost to Matt Hagan
Charlotte1: Qual. 6; Beat Dale Creasy Jr, Chad Green; Lost to Ron Capps, Mike McIntire
Richmond: Qual. 5; Lost to John Force
Epping: Qual. 10; Beat Blake Alexander, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Matt Hagan
Bristol: Qual. 11; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Norwalk: Qual. 7; Beat Blake Alexander, John Force; Lost to Robert Hight
Denver: Qual. 6; Beat Cruz Pedregon; Lost to John Force
Sonoma: Qual. 10; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to John Force
Seattle: Qual. 7; RUNNER-UP; Beat Blake Alexander, Bob Tasca III, bye; Lost to Robert Hight
Topeka: Qual. 8; Lost to Alexis DeJoria
Brainerd: Qual. 7; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Robert Hight
Indianapolis: Qual. 8; Beat Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Ron Capps
Reading: Qual. 6; Beat Chad Green; Lost to John Force
Charlotte2: Qual. 6; Lost to Alexis DeJoria
