NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

This weekend’s 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway marks the first back-to-back racing weekend of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. In the eyes of Top Fuel standout J.R. Todd, that is very much a good thing.

The SpringNationals signals the start of a busy spring on the NHRA circuit and Todd hopes it’s also the beginning of a hot stretch in his 10,000-horsepower SealMaster dragster. The team has put together a solid start to 2016, earning two semifinal finishes this season and advancing to the second round at last weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

Todd and the rest of the Top Fuel standouts return to conventional side-by-side racing this weekend in Houston, with Todd, who has eight career victories, aiming for his first victory of 2016.

“Myself, I look forward to racing consecutive races,” said Todd, who finished second in points in 2014. “It keeps you in your groove and doesn't give you time to dwell on the previous event.

“After (five) races, we're in the top 10 in points but I feel like the SealMaster team could be doing a little better than what we have. We just need to work on consistently going down the track every run and I think we'll be in good shape.”

Last year’s winners were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Houston-native Erica Enders (Pro Stock). The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying highlights on April 29 at 8 p.m. and finals coverage on May 1 at 5 p.m. The tradition-rich race near Houston is the sixth of 24 races during the 2016 season and Todd is currently sixth in points in the ultra-competitive Top Fuel class.

Todd’s last win came a year ago in Seattle, but he struggled down the stretch during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Todd posted a final round finish in Charlotte to kick off the six-race playoffs, jumping to fourth in points, but won just one round over the final five events.

Since then, Todd and his Kalitta Motorsports team have made a number of changes, adding Rob Flynn as a co-crew chief. It’s been an ideal move for team owner Connie Kalitta thus far, and Todd has been impressed with how the team has come together even with the addition of several new team members. There have also been vast adjustments to Todd’s dragster but the changes should only benefit him down the road.

“Our Sealmaster team is made up of mostly new guys for 2016,” Todd said. “Bringing on (co-crew chief) Rob Flynn has been great addition and he works really well with Connie and the rest of our crew chiefs. Some have little to no experience, so for them it's been a bit of a learning curve and working on getting their routine down. 

“We recently unloaded a new Bounty Hunter chassis, which as a driver has been more comfortable for me and fun to drive.  This has been all due to the hard work of the guys in the machine shop and fab shop back at Kalitta Motorsports.”

Todd is eager to get back to the winner’s circle in a Top Fuel class that has already seen two first-time winners in 2016 in Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force. Force won her second career race last weekend in Charlotte to extend her points lead, further displaying the depth and talent in Top Fuel.

For Todd to show continued improvement and pick up his first win this season, he’ll have to get past the likes of Force, as well as defending world champion Antron Brown, who won in Las Vegas. Todd’s Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta has two career wins at Royal Purple Raceway, while others to watch include eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Winternationals winner Steve Torrence, Richie Crampton and Shawn Langdon.

It makes for a rigorous challenge, but Todd, who earned his lone Royal Purple Raceway victory in 2007, sees immense potential of the new car and his team.

“Once all the SealMaster guys get comfortable in their position, we will be even quicker,” said Todd, who has a career-best E.T. of 3.703. “With the live TV and short turnaround time in between rounds, every minute counts.  I believe the performance of this new car is there and round wins and event wins will fall in place.”

The first round of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will start at 4:30 p.m. on Friday followed by the night session that will begin at 7 p.m. The final two rounds of qualifying will take place Saturday, April 30 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 1.

For the Friday night qualifying session there will be a special pre-race ceremony highlighting some of the nitro stars and will feature a special Ladies Night promotion. All female spectators will receive free admission with a reserved seat on the spectator side of the track. This offer is available for walk-up ticket purchases only. In another promotion, kids 13 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult ticket.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 281-383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com.