Third in the NHRA Funny Car Division takes us for a Deep Dive into the World of a 12k Horse Power Driver
By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
JR Todd Explains his Core Factors of Success from pit crews, confidence and His Need for Speed
My candid conversation with JR Todd of Team Kalitta and DHL takes us in two 7-10 minute episodes to his weekly NHRA competition prep, what he does between races, and much more. He explains why NHRA simulators work different from NASCAR and IndyCar and how much actual testing a NHRA team can really do.
Team Kalitta Website <<< >>> JR Todd Page
- Performance and Timing: Races are determined by a combination of reaction time (how quickly a driver leaves the starting line) and elapsed time (how fast the car covers the track). A driver can win with a slightly slower car if they react faster at the start.
- Team Dynamics: Many champions, including drivers like JR Todd and Tony Stewart, emphasize that success is heavily dependent on the crew. The ability of the crew to maintain, tune, and set up the car at 100% capacity is often considered the primary driver of victory.
- Consistency and Metrics: The NHRA tracks a “success rate,” which measures how frequently a racer achieves a run quicker than the class average. This highlights the importance of repeating high-level performances consistently throughout a race weekend.
- Strategic Points Accumulation: Over a season, success is defined by qualifying well and going rounds in the playoffs (such as the Countdown to the Championship), which allows a team to build and maintain a points lead.
Part one with JR Todd talking about his NHRA season, catching Matt Hagen, Kalitta Motorsports, and DHL
Roy J. Akers covers motorsports including NASCAR, NHRA, Indy Car and more and is the host of High Banked Fury, the Zoom/podcast.Motorsports newsmakers, media of the sport with expert analyst guests, stories, and opinions are found on the podcast and www.skyviewsports.net.
