SONOMA, Calif. — A year ago, a win at Sonoma Raceway came at a much-needed time for NHRA Funny Car driver J.R. Todd.
The former champion had gone 52 races without a victory, ending a drought at a track that has been very good to him over the years.
Todd and his Kalitta Motorsports team are in a much better place heading into this weekend’s 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, but a win would be just as rewarding for the talented driver who is one of only two NHRA competitors (Don Prudhomme) to win in both Funny Car and Top Fuel at the scenic facility.
He advanced to the semifinals last weekend in Seattle in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra, already has a win this season and is currently fourth in points – just 22 points out of second.
It’s been a rewarding season thus far for Todd, but the defending event winner wants more, touching on just how important it was to get a Funny Car victory last year in Sonoma, which is understandably one of his favorite stops on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour.
“(Last year’s Sonoma win) was good because we’d struggled for however long and hadn’t had a win, so it was nice to reward the guys,” Todd said. “You never know if or when your next win is going to come so after all the struggles, it was nice to finally get another one. Any win is special. I’ve definitely had success at Sonoma in the past, and it’s definitely my favorite track on the tour so it’s always good to return as the defending winner. We went into that race last year with a little momentum from Seattle like we will this week, so hopefully we can parlay that into another win this weekend.”
Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Todd (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all took home wins in Sonoma. The weekend also includes the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday.
Todd is in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, taking on Seattle winner and points leader Austin Prock in a must-see Seattle rematch. The other matchup features Paul Lee and Blake Alexander, as drivers will be looking for a bonus purse and bonus points. Todd won the bonus race last year as well, sweeping the weekend in Sonoma. He’ll look to do the same in 2024, taking on a loaded Funny Car field that also includes defending world champion Matt Hagan and Bob Tasca III, who are tied for second in points, Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria.
What impressed Todd the most in Seattle was the team’s ability to put up big numbers, qualifying well under the lights and dipping into the 3.80s in eliminations as well. With ideal weather conditions at one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit – as well as a Friday night session that could be epic – that will again be necessary in what is expected to be a thrilling show this weekend in Sonoma.
“It was definitely a good turnaround from where we’ve been this season,” Todd said. “We struggled a little bit keeping the thing running on eight cylinders, and that definitely cost us in the semifinals. All in all, it was a good weekend. It felt good. It’s nice to be able to throw down and make runs when you need to. We just have to fine tune it with it dropping cylinders, and hopefully, we’ll be in good shape the rest of the season.
“Conditions are going to be good in Sonoma, so we’ll definitely have to run hard there. We’ve been fighting dropping cylinders, so if we can get that figured out, I think we have a really good chance of competing for a win in Sonoma.”
In Top Fuel, Ashley is after a third win in 2024, taking on the likes of Seattle winner Steve Torrence, who has four Sonoma victories, reigning champ and points leader Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher, Clay Millican and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart.
Pro Stock returns to Sonoma after a year off in 2023. This season has been another year of intense competition featuring standouts like reigning champion Erica Enders, whose six Sonoma wins are the most of any NHRA driver, Greg Anderson, points leader Dallas Glenn, two-time 2024 winner Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Herrera swept the weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Sonoma last year, winning the Callout and the event en route to the title. He’s been dominant in 2024, winning the first six races of the year before Chase Van Sant won on Sunday in Seattle, snapping Herrera’s 11-race winning streak.
