Todd, Kalitta Lead Toyota Into NHRA Midwest Nationals 

MADISON, IL – J.R. Todd qualified ninth in Funny Car, while Doug Kalitta did the same in Top Fuel to lead Toyota into Sunday’s NHRA Midwest Nationals in front of a packed house at World Wide Technology Raceway in the third race of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Todd, who entered the weekend fourth in the Funny Car point standings, earned his starting spot with a 3.915-second pass at more than 330 mph. He’ll face off with Tim Wilkerson in round one.

Rounding out the Toyota Funny Car ranks, Alexis DeJoria placed 11th and will race Bob Tasca, while Chris King qualified 15th and opens with Funny Car point leader Ron Capps.

In Top Fuel, Kalitta heads into race day after notching a pair of impressive 3.74 runs over the three qualifying sessions and he will square off with Tripp Tatum in round one.

Antron Brown placed 11th with a 3.765-second pass and will match-up with Spencer Massey on Sunday, while Shawn Langdon qualified 14th and faces Steve Torrence in eliminations.

Sunday’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations will be televised on FS1 beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).

Quotes:

J.R. Todd, DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: “We’ll go to work on this DHL Toyota tonight and get ready for tomorrow. We’ll have some work to do, but it’s crunch time.”