TODD, LANGDON DRIVE CAMRYS TO TOPEKA NHRA SEMI-FINALS

TOPEKA, KS – J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon drove their Camrys to the Funny Car semi-finals to lead Toyota at the rain-delayed Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. The first two rounds took place on Sunday after an eight-hour rain delay before track conditions eventually forced postponement of the final two rounds to Monday.

After qualifying fourth, Todd defeated Dale Creasy and Jack Beckman in his DHL Toyota before falling to eventual winner Courtney Force in today’s semi-finals. Todd has now registered 10-3 round win-loss record over his last five races and sits fifth in the point standings.

“It is disappointing to lose after such a marathon race,” said Todd. “My entire DHL/WIX Filters Camry team worked so hard this weekend. However, I am very excited about some of the runs we made and I am looking forward to Chicago.”

Langdon knocked off Ron Capps and Johnny Lindberg in Sunday’s first two rounds and then was eliminated by Robert Hight after smoking the tires early in the semi-finals.

“We are still trying to figure out why we smoked the tires,” said Langdon after his semi-final loss. “It looks like it might have broke a clutch arm. We have just had some weird stuff happen this year. I am proud of my team and what they were able to fight through and overcome this week. We came together as a team and they delivered a great car. We were able to deliver a semi-final finish. Hopefully, we can build on this.”

Rounding out the Camry Funny Car contingent, Cruz Pedregon qualified a season-best third, but was unable to make a clean pass in losing to Hight as the Funny Cars struggled mightily through the first half of the opening round on Sunday after the long rain delay.

Doug Kalitta led the way among the Toyota Top Fuel drivers in advancing to the second round with a victory over Scott Palmer before losing to Clay Millican in round two.

Both Richie Crampton and Antron Brown lost in Sunday’s first round with Crampton being eliminated by Brittany Force and Brown by Leah Pritchett.

The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series takes Memorial Day weekend off before heading to Chicago for the JEGS Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, June 1-3.