Todd Qualifies Sixth In NHRA Charlotte Qualifying

CHARLOTTE, NC – J.R. Todd qualified sixth in Funny Car to lead Toyota into Sunday’s DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, in the second race of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Todd laid down a 3.899-second pass at 326.08 mph in his DHL Toyota Camry in Friday night’s qualifying to earn the sixth spot where he will face fellow Camry driver Mike McIntire in eliminations. Todd enters Sunday fourth in the championship race.

Alexis DeJoria was right behind Todd in seventh as she registered a 3.907 at 328.62 mph. DeJoria opens eliminations with Blake Alexander.

In Top Fuel, Antron Brown was the quickest Toyota driver with a 3.764-second run at 318.99 mph to place eighth. He will match-up against Spencer Massey in round one.

Doug Kalitta qualified 12th and will have to contend with point leader Steve Torrence in his opening run, while Shawn Langdon will race Clay Millican after earning the 14th seed.

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

Quotes:

Antron Brown, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster: “We made gains all day long. We’re happy. We have a good setup for race day. We have lane choice, I’m not sure that matters, but being in the top half of the field is good as we continue to learn and grow. We have a tough first round match-up with Spencer (Massey), one of the best pure drivers in the class, and we’re looking forward to getting out there and racing on Sunday.”