NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The goal for every racer in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is to be performing at his or her best when the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.

 

After a slow start and a number of close calls this season, Top Fuel standout J.R. Todd appears to be headed in that direction. The latest sign came on Sunday when Todd picked up his first victory of the season in Sonoma during the second stop of the famed Western Swing.

 

He will carry that momentum in his 10,000-horsepower SealMaster dragster into Pacific Raceways for this weekend’s 29th annual Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, where Todd serves as the defending Top Fuel winner. A second straight win in Seattle would be the ideal finish to the Western Swing, giving Todd even more hope of competing at his best when a world championship is on the line.

 

“We are excited to be making good consistent runs in this SealMaster Toyota dragster,” said Todd, who is sixth in Top Fuel points after the win. “We struggled earlier in the season, but we are headed in the right direction. Our qualifying positions have improved the last few races and we are running better consistently to get there. We are moving in the right direction at the right time.”

 

Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) were also last year’s winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event held at the multi-purpose motorsports facility near Seattle. It is the 16th of 24 races during the 2016 season and will be broadcast on the FOX national broadcast network for the first time.

 

Only two races follow the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil before the Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and things appear to be going as planned for Todd and his talented Kalitta Motorsports team.

 

Todd has now advanced to the final round at three of the past four races, knocking off Richie Crampton in Sonoma for his first victory since last year’s event in Seattle. Todd continues to be consistent and quick, two aspects that will be needed to claim what would be his first world championship. Returning to the scene of his lone victory a scene ago will give the eight-time event winner that much more confidence to finish off the rigorous Western Swing on a strong note.

 

“It is always nice to return to a race you won last season,” Todd said. “If conditions are similar, we have a great set of notes for the weekend that hopefully will allow us to run strong again this season. We are making good consistent clean passes that have been in the top five of the class most times we go down the track.”

 

That consistency has started to pay off for Todd, who has four total final round appearances in 2016. It also gave Todd and his team confidence, but getting that first victory of the season will only add to it. Todd, though, still has big goals before the Countdown to the Championship, including a second straight win at Seattle.

 

More victories and more impressive performances during eliminations can move Todd up the points standings, as he currently sits 74 points back of fifth-place Tony Schumacher, an eight-time world champion.

 

“The goal is to get this SealMaster team into the top five before the Countdown begins after Indy,” Todd said. “In 2014, I came from tenth to second, but you have a much better shot if you start near the front of the standings.”

 

To get to fifth or even higher before the Countdown won’t be easy and Todd will face off against a talented field in Seattle that includes Schumacher, who has four wins at the facility, and points leader and reigning world champion Antron Brown, who has three wins in 2016.

 

Others to watch in the class is Todd’s Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta, who also has three wins this season, Steve Torrence, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican, Crampton, Leah Pritchett and Terry McMillen. But Todd likes what he is seeing out of his car and team, and he expects that to continue in Seattle.

 

“Our team morale is very good and continues to get more positive as we keep going consecutive races with round wins,” Todd said. “The Western Swing is one of the hardest parts of the season and if we can keep doing what we are doing I am confident going into Indy and the Countdown for the Championship.”

 

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature rounds at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7.

 

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.nhra.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.