With his win at NHRA’s Toyota Nationals — JR Todd has moved to a very advantageous position in his pursuit for a first ever NHRA World Championship title…..

The incredible postseason run of J.R. Todd and the DHL/WIX Filters team persisted with their fifth final round appearance in the past six events and third in a row. Unlike the previous two events that resulted in runner-up finishes for Todd, the DHL/WIX team was able to guide their Toyota Camry to the winner’s circle in Las Vegas.

Todd struggled through his first two qualifying runs on Friday, ending up 16th after one day. He vaulted up to the No. 2 qualifying spot on Saturday with a 3.911-second pass at 329.19 mph.

JR Todd defeated Matt Hagan in the fuel FC final round.

In round one of eliminations, Todd matched up against Richard Townsend and used a 3.935 at 321.27 to earn the victory as Townsend ran into early tire smoke and coasted to a finish.

After knocking off Robert Hight in the first round, Shawn Langdon awaited Todd in the quarterfinals. The DHL/WIX Camry was again up to the task, powering to a 3.957 at 320.36 as Langdon also ran into trouble and coasted across the finish line.

In the semifinals, Todd was paired up with Jack Beckman, and the two had one of the closest side-by-side runs of the day with Todd again turning on the win lights with a 3.906 at 327.11 to a 3.937 at 327.09.

In his third consecutive final round and seventh of the season, Todd emerged victorious over Matt Hagan for his fifth win of the 2019 season.

With the win, Todd now has a 74-point lead in the Funny Car standings heading into the NHRA Finals in Pomona where he is now well positioned to secure his first world championship at the season-closing event.

“We qualified 16th on Friday and then we were bumped from the field before we ran in Q3 on Saturday,” JR Todd reflected.  “We were really aggressive in Q3 and ran a 3.91 and ended up second. That just goes to show how hard these DHL Toyota guys work. We had some issues on Friday and they stayled late and changed the entire fuel system. We came out and made two really good runs on Saturday. Then today, we were pretty much flawless. It’s so awesome to drive a car like that when it’s so consistent that you don’t have to worry if you have to go out and pedal it. You just go up there and smack the tree as hard as you can and get after it. It’s a lot of fun to drive, but we still have some unfinished business in Pomona. Hopefully, we can go out there and win two trophies.”

Posted by Joseph Anderson 

(Runner-up Matt Hagan raced this ultra cool looking new Mopar/Pennzoil 2019 Hellcat body at Las Vegas)

Event Essentials:   NHRA Toyota Nationals (Oct. 26-28th, 2018) 

(For the points leader going into the LV race – Robert Hight – a first round defeat to Shawn Langdon was very costly)

(DSR team racer Tommy Johnson Jr qualified #1 at Las Vegas – his 3.879 secs held up for low ET of the event.)

(Fast Jack Beckman was the provisional pole sitter after Friday — running that days best time of 3.922 secs)

(Canadian native Jeff Arend once again drove for the Australian team of Peter and Helen Russo. Jeff qualified the Chevy-bodied car on the bump at 4.119 secs.)

(John Force was credited with top speed of the meet in FC – hitting a 330.55 mph mark)

Photos by Phil Hutchison, Gary Nastase, Ron Lewis and courtesy of NHRA