Toyota Teams Talk NHRA Spring Training Testing; Pedregon, Crampton, Kalitta, Langdon, Todd and Brown
Antron Brown , Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster driver:
For most teams a fourth-place finish would be a great year, but how did that sit with your team after last season?
It’s definitely not where we want to finish. At the end of the day, we had a very competitive season last year and made it to 10 final rounds. But we got into the Countdown and our timing was off. We struggled with a lot of problems we don’t usually have. We fought through them, but we just seemed to be racing the wrong car at the wrong time. Now it’s time for a new chapter for this team and time to get better. This is a new beginning for us and it’s going to be fun and exciting and we’re coming after them.
Has this created even more resolve than this team had before?
Absolutely. We had a lot of shifting around this off-season and it’s no big secret that we lost one of our crew chiefs. That’s a blow to us. It’s like losing one of your all-star players. But it also gives a chance for one of other guys in line to stand up. Mark Oswald has run cars for us before and he’s the lead and he’ll have Brad Mason by his side running this Matco Tools Toyota this year. A number of our guys stepped up and we’ve made a couple of great additions. Now it’s a new chapter, we have some younger blood with Brad. Mark is so pristine on how he handles all the data and analyzes things. Brad’s been putting together our cars for years so we’ll have a bright future with a good one-two punch.
It re-energized me as well as I’m learning more about the race car where I was more off it before. Now they’re filling me in and I feel the future is going to be bigger and brighter.
This off-season I actually took more time off from the extra activities like TV and going non-stop. I just shut it down and took December off and then after Christmas I got back into the gym. I’ve been around the shop and seeing that the boys have it all under control. I’m rested. I’m fit and I’m ready to go.
As we head into Black history month how does it feel to know that you’re still the only black champion in major American auto racing history?
It’s very humbling and it’s been a blessing. There were a lot of people that raced before me who paved the way for me. I had a lot of people that I looked up to including my dad, my uncle and my grandfather who started it off in my family. And then there were different people like Wendell Scott on the NASCAR side, James Stewart from SuperCross, as well as Lewis Hamilton in F1 overseas. To be one of those trailblazers is definitely a blessing, but it’s also part of my duty to go out here and let these younger kids and teenagers look at me and say if Antron Brown can do it, I can do it. I want them to know that when I grew up I was just like them where I had the same dreams. I had a lot of determination and drive, but the thing was I never stopped. I put myself out so when I got the opportunity, I was prepared to take the opportunity. That’s what I try to tell the kids today – you’re going to get an opportunity and when you do, you have to seize it and jump on it and once you jump on, it’s going to be a bucking bull at first. So you have to hold on and eventually you’ll tame it down, then you’re going to ride that wave and live that dream.
Was diversity ever an issue for you in drag racing?
Drag racing has always been diverse. It’s not something they had to implement or put in. Drag racing has always been accessible to anyone and there’s a level for everyone regardless of what you’re driving. You go to the drag strip and race. My dad was drag racing before I was born. It doesn’t matter what race or color you are, people respect you for your machine and how fast you can go. Doesn’t matter if you’re running a station wagon, as long as you can match the number on the board, you’re taking home that money. That’s the unique thing about our sport, it’s always been wide open and accessible. There’s drag racing all over the place. There’s never been a need to make it diverse because it’s been diverse since I was a kid.
You mentioned your family bringing you up in drag racing, have you done the same with your kids?
Drag racing instilled a lot into me, and my wife, Billie, also comes from a drag racing family in Louisiana and we’ve tried to install that into our family. My kids all have raced junior dragsters from an early age and they’ve learned life lessons. You’ve got to put the work in. My son learned that first-hand. If you’re struggling, you’ve got to go test. If you want to get better, you’ve got to test to get it right and by working hard, my son, Anson (13), won the junior dragster championship this past year. The funny thing was his speech at the championship when he got up and said, ‘well dad since you’re not going to win a championship this year, at least you can celebrate mine with me.’
Mark Oswald , Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster Crew Chief:
After two straight championships, you guys placed fourth last year and had a number of changes on the team. What’s it going to take to get back to the top?
We’re here testing to get back on track and get some of the new guys acclimated to their jobs, as well as getting some of the other guys on the team transitioned into new positions. I’m tickled to death for Brad Mason. I know he’s going to do great.
Last year, we had a better year than it appeared, it just didn’t end up that way. We didn’t have the good races when we needed to. We were stronger in the early part of the season.
In the end, we’re all here for the championship. We’ve all won races and it’s nice because that’s what pays the money, but for us, the championship is the prize.
J.R. Todd , DHL Toyota Camry FC driver:
You’re now in your second season of Funny Car, how is this year different than last?
It definitely feels different simply because I’m more comfortable inside the car. This time last year I was pretty nervous. I didn’t know at all what to expect and I was just learning every run down the track. I’m still learning, but now I’m working on things to make myself a better driver inside the car. Before I just wanted to get comfortable and work on things like my reaction time. Now I’m thinking what can I do inside the car to make myself better.
It’s amazing what running a year in these cars can do for you. They’ll still ground you, though. Shawn (Langdon) put it best when he said, “it’s like playing a video racing game and you make it to the expert level and it’s really hard to play, that’s what driving a Funny Car is.”
What are your goals for this year?
My goal is to go out there and win as many races as we can. Ideally, you want to set yourself up better for going into the Countdown than what we did last season. You want to be somewhere around the top five going into that first Countdown race. We just need to work on our consistency. We started the season off slow, but came around during the summer, but then went back into a slump in the Countdown. We found a lot of things wrong with the car mechanically in the off-season and we think we’ve adjusted those issues. That should set ourselves up better for 2018. If we can address the consistency in runs down the track, I think we can work together with the Global guys and have two Toyota Camrys compete for the championship this year.
How have you been working with teammate Shawn Langdon as he makes the transition to Funny Cars similar to what you went through last season?
We just bounce ideas off each other. He will come to me with something and I’ll say I know exactly what you’re talking about because that’s what I went through. He’s a world champ and he knows it’s just going to take some time to figure this thing out, but he’s already doing a great job in testing. Our goal together is just to help each other out. We want to see each other win and make ourselves better than the opposition. I first met Shawn when he was probably 12 and I was 13 at a junior dragster national championship in Colorado. It’s cool to see how we’ve progressed through the years to get to this point.
How is it being a part of such a talented driver roster with Kalitta?
In my mind, we have four of the best drivers out here. We all want to do what we can to make each other better. It doesn’t get much better than Doug Kalitta driving the Mac Tools Toyota. He’s been doing this longer than any of us and he’s forgotten more than most of us will ever learn. When times get tough we go to him for some advice. I want to see he and Richie go out and beat all of those guys in Top Fuel, and in turn I think they want to see Shawn and I go out and do the same in these Toyota Camrys. We’ll do whatever we can to make ourselves better than the two other top teams in the sport.
You had a great first season in a Funny Car, but, does it seem like you’re still somewhat under the radar?
I’d rather be under the radar. My whole career has been that way. When we won Indy, I don’t think anyone expected us to win Indy, even in the final round they weren’t giving us a shot. That’s fine with me. If we can come out of 2018 with the number one on the side of the car going into next season. That would get everyone’s attention.
Jon Oberhofer, DHL Toyota Camry FC Crew Chief:
Heading into 2018, you have the advantage of J.R. having a year under his belt, how does that affect the team?
He’s just that much further ahead. At this point last year, he was still figuring it out. He did a really good job last year and ended up the season on a strong note winning two of the biggest races of the year. We just need to give him as good a car as we can in 2018.
What are your goals heading into the season?
Our goal is to win races and a championship. We have the team to do it and we have the driver to do it.
How has it been working with TRD and Toyota?
It’s been great. I’m really excited about continuing to work with TRD and Toyota and some of the things we’re starting to do with them. The addition of Slugger Labbe to the program has been very beneficial. We’ve opened the lines of communication. There are a lot of technical areas we’ve expanded upon. We’re better as a group than we are individually and those guys are fantastic. I have nothing but praise for them. We’ve been with TRD for a while and I firmly believe that they’ll do whatever it takes to help us succeed.
Shawn Langdon , Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry FC driver:
How has the adjustment to Funny Cars been for you?
It’s going good. I’m just learning on every run really. I’m making some small leaps in the learning process just going down the track in testing. It’s been pretty good progress so far. I’m just working through it.
What are your thoughts on Pomona?
I’m excited to get to Pomona. I’ve been waiting since last November to get there. Pomona is where I grew up. I had a lot of success there in the Top Fuel car, so I can’t wait to run this Global Electronic Technology Camry there at the Winternationals.
What are your goals for your first season in Funny Car?
To win and compete for the championship at the end of the year. I’m looking to be a contender right out of the gate. Winning the title is the main goal.
How has it been working with two world championship-winning crew chiefs in Tommy DeLago and Nicky Boninfante?
Nicky and Tommy know how to tune the car. If I can minimize my mistakes as a driver and minimize the learning curve that’s going to be the key to our success. It’s part of the reason that I came over here to do this.
How has it helped having J.R. Todd as a teammate after he made a similar transition to Funny Cars from Top Fuel last year?
J.R.’s been very instrumental in my early learning process of these cars – explaining a lot of the things that he went through – just the characteristics of the car. He’s helped me get through steps 1, 2 and 3 of the learning process of what to expect. It’s easy to talk to him. We’re buddies on and off the track. We’ve been sharing a lot of information through testing. It’s going to be a good fit for us both. But, at the end of the day, you’ve got to get the seat of the pants deal and that’s where the testing laps come into play.
Tommy DeLago Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry FC Crew Chief:
How is Shawn doing in his transition to Funny Cars?
He may be new to Funny Car, but he’s not new to driving a Fuel car – not really new to driving any drag racing car. He’s the type of guy who’s ultra-competitive and anything with four wheels he can drive the hell out of. Right now, it’s just a little acclimation for him to get used to having a body around him. It’s a little bit tighter space in the Funny Car than in the dragster.
He looks like he’s been driving these things for years already, albeit, he’s like ‘I’m a little bit behind it and I can do better.’ We thought he’d driven it perfect, but he didn’t think he did. That right there tells me we don’t have anything to worry about. He knows what he wants to do. He’s very critical of himself and holds himself to high standards. All we have to do is make the car as good as we can for him and he’ll do the rest. We need to just work on winning rounds and learn to win races as a team and then just let the rest of it come to us.
What’s it like working with this line-up of drivers at Kalitta Motorsports?
I think right now the crew of drivers that we have here at Kalitta has basically made it so there’s no excuses for the crew chiefs. Everything is on the crew chiefs now. We have drivers that are bad to the bone, so now the pressure is on for us to produce. We have to step up to the plate and do our jobs and everything will be fine.
Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster driver:
What’s the outlook for the 2018 season?
I’ve got the same group of guys this year and that’s always good to keep the team together. I’m really excited about that. I’m 21 years (in a Top Fuel car) this year and I’ve been second a lot of times, so I’m really hopeful that we can put something together this year. I’ve got a great team behind me and I’ve got a bunch of terrific sponsors including Mac Tools and Toyota – we really appreciate what TRD has done for us in terms of tech support.
What are your thoughts on Pomona?
I have to admit, Pomona is a place I love to run. The history of the track makes it a great place to open the season. We’ve run well there, so we’ll see what happens. We want to start fast at Pomona and take it one at a time and just lay it down.
Tell us about running a very successful business in Kalitta Charters and still being able to compete for championships on the race track?
I’m at the airport every day working on different deals. Things have been busy. We have added five 737’s and it’s a step up. Overall, we have 48 planes and over 300 people working with us. I’m very fortunate that my guys here make it easy on me. I’m in the office all week, so they basically make it that I can fly in and drive this thing.
What’s it like to be one on a team like this one with four proven drivers?
We’re all a bunch of hungry hunters and it’s nice to have teammates that you can bounce things off. We’re excited to see Shawn and J.R. in the Funny Cars, both are great drivers and I’m expecting big things out of Richie.
Jim Oberhoffer, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster Crew Chief:
What are the goals for the Mac Tools Toyota team in 2018?
To win a championship – plain and simple.
What would it mean to you to see Doug Kalitta win the title?
It would be very special. Doug’s more than just a driver to me, he’s like a brother. We’ve had a lot of great times and some struggles here as well. I’ve been with the Kalitta organization for 30 years and I’ve been Doug’s crew chief since 2009. The first day I came to work here, Doug was the bottom-end guy on Connie’s Top Fuel dragster.
Overall, what’s it like to have four accomplished drivers on the team?
We’ve always had great drivers here at Kalitta Motorsports because that’s what Connie’s wanted. We’ve been fortunate over the years to have some great drivers and this group that we have right now is special. They’ve won a lot of races between them. The talent here is unbelievable. We all work together. We’re one team with four cars.
What’s it like to have worked for the legendary Connie Kalitta for 30 years?
It’s been cool. He’s truly one of the most under-appreciated motorsports owners/drivers/crew chiefs in the world. He loves drag racing. He has a passion about it like nobody out here. He makes you want to do things. You want to run through a brick wall for him. There’s just something about him. He’s helped the sport from the ground
Richie Crampton, Kalitta Air Toyota Top Fuel Dragster driver:
What’s the big difference for you between now and when you joined the team last year?
The big difference at this point in time is I get to contend all 24 events and try to make a run at the Countdown. It’s a different dynamic than coming in for Indy, past the midway point of the year. I’m pretty excited for the opportunity to start fresh when everyone runs at the same level playing field as far as the points are concerned and try to win some races this year.
Did you test at all last year – and how will testing here impact you?
Every race we race we went to last year, we just showed up and would make some runs. I’m pretty happy with what we did at a couple of the races. For me, getting amongst this operation last year was a good stepping-stone for this year. It’s huge for me to come here and just test. Everyone here at the Kalitta Air Toyota team– they’re working at giving me a really good hot rod – which I know they will. I’m just trying to knock some rust off and get back into my rhythm. So we’ll make a handful of runs here and be looking good for Pomona.”
How does it feel to be part of a team featuring four proven winners?
It’s pretty cool to have the opportunities I have in front of me right now. Driving for a top-level operation like Connie has here is pretty big. Just to drive with all of these great drivers that I’ve looked up to as my teammates, I know I’m going to learn a ton from them. Even though Shawn and J.R. have migrated over to Funny Cars, I still bounce things off of them. Being teammates with Doug, who has won so many races, just being able to talk to him throughout the year. It’s very exciting for me. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. I’m back out here with a top-level team and racing again – it’s great.
After being left without a ride to start last season when MLR closed shop, were you confident you would get an opportunity with a top-level team again?
No. I think I’m more realistic than anyone out here on just how just hard it is to get a ride with a top-level team like this. I was obviously very fortunate when I was selected to drive for the previous team, but to get the phone call to come here was something I hoped to happen, but in all reality, I didn’t know if it ever would. Everyone in the world wants to drive one of these cars and I understand it. There are a lot of up-and-coming sportsman racers that deserve a shot also and I get that, too. So for me it’s just about appreciating what I have here and hope to never be without a ride again.
What are your goals for 2018?
First, and foremost, I want to stand in the Winner’s Circle with Connie Kalitta. That would mean a huge amount to me. We want to win rounds and win a lot of races for Toyota, DHL and Kalitta Air and all of our sponsors who have given me this great opportunity. In a nutshell, just win.
Rob Flynn, Kalitta Air/Toyota Top Fuel dragster Crew Chief
You have a new driver for 2018, how are things looking for the coming year?
We’ve just been around each other a little bit so far, but I think it’s going to work out real well. It was good to have him in the fold at the end of last year and learn how things get done here. So he’s not an outsider coming in now. I think he feels at home.
I’m looking forward to Richie driving our car this year. Last year, Shawn did an awesome job with us and Richie did a nice job running in the other car. Having him in our car, I believe Kalitta Motorsports has one of the best driver line-ups out there.
Can you continue the strong finish you guys had in 2017?
I certainly hope so. We just hit our stride at that point in the Countdown. Hopefully, we can hit the ground running. We haven’t changed a lot, but we are testing some new things.
Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry Funny Car driver
What’s your outlook for 2018?
It’s bright. We feel that last year with the way we reconfigured the team. We got Aaron Brooks in here. Surrounding myself with the right people has been a missing ingredient for the last few years.
We had some good runs from 2010 through 2014 and won close to 10 races in that span. But the competition has stepped up and some new technology has been introduced. I feel confident that 2017 was the year we put money in the bank and this year is going to be the year we start to collect interest – and that’s on the track performance-wise.
The truth is last year was a rebuilding year for us and it was a tough year, but Snap-on Tools stuck behind us and we just signed a new three-year deal through 2020, and of course, Toyota, who I go back with to their early days of midget racing. Having their track support helps puts us on a more level playing field with the bigger teams.
What are some of the new looks for 2018?
One key hire we made was Glen Huszar, who has been flying under the radar a little bit. He’s worked with Tim Richards and he won a championship in 2010 with Tommy DeLago. He really brings a previously missing element. We brought him in at the end of last year at Las Vegas and Pomona to see how he would fit in and after the first weekend Aaron Brooks and I looked at each other like ‘wow, we need that guy here.’ In big-time drag racing, you can’t have just one guy overseeing things and with Aaron Glen and myself I think we have three. I think good things are coming for the Snap-on Toyota this year. Talk is cheap, but I feel like we’ll be in the mix this year.
What’s the story behind your 15-pound weight loss?
I’m as confident as I’ve ever been. I’ve been eating right and working out this off-season. I wanted to make sure I did my part and we want to provide our sponsors with as light a car as possible. We put the car on a diet and we put me on a diet. If it makes us go faster – and it will – then it was an easy decision.
What are your goals for 2018?
Our goal this year is simple – to win. If we can get by that first round or two – once you make the semis, you’re in the game and the next thing you know you’re in the winner’s circle. Qualifying is one of the keys and round wins will come if we’re consistent. We’ve done some analytics and the elephant in the room has been our inconsistent runs. That’s been our main focus.
Aaron Brooks, Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry Funny Car Crew Chief
What’s your outlook for 2018?
We struggled last year, but, we knew going into the year it was going to be a rebuilding year with a lot of changes. We have some more new guys who have joined the program, but we’ve gone over our Snap-on Camry from front to back and refined every part of the car. We feel good and feel like we’ve landed the right combination toward the end of the year and we’re starting off with that. We feel if we can gain the consistency, we feel like we should be able to be a top-five car.
How important was it to bring the team management team back intact from last year?
It’s huge to bring back our management team intact. It’s hard to build consistency if you’re always changing people or changing parts. Consistency is the name of the game.
How do you feel going into your second year in Funny Car after a long history in Top Fuel?
Last year was a little bit of a beat down. It made me feel pretty stupid for a while, but I think we have a good handle on where we are going with our program and our tune-up. I feel good and I sleep a little better at night.
What are your goals for 2018?
Obviously, we want to win a race, then multiple races and earn our way into the Countdown and try to win a championship. We have a good combination and a top driver and I’ll be disappointed if we’re not in the top five.”
