NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After winning the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals to open the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, J.R. Todd heads to this weekend’s 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals with plenty of momentum.

But it certainly won’t get any easier for the former Funny Car world champion at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Todd is one of 21 Funny Car entries for this weekend’s annual early-season race in Pomona, which makes it the largest Funny Car field for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals since 2014.

It’s a huge and massively talented Funny Car category, but Todd is feeling the best of everyone heading into Pomona in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra. A season-opening win in Gainesville gives the team plenty of confidence, and Todd knows his team will be ready for the challenge in Pomona. But Todd also knows there will be talented drivers at every turn this weekend at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

“[The win] sets a good tone going into Pomona,” Todd said. “It’s not like these guys [on this team] lack confidence. When we were not running well, they still knew they had an opportunity to run well and win against these guys. I know I have to be on kill every time because when the car is on, I think it’s a tough combination. I try to hold up my end, and I know they’re always working to give me a great car. As long as we can keep going to the semifinals, I think we can set up ourselves a run for the championship. But top to bottom, it’s tough in Funny Car, and you can’t take anybody lightly. It’s a matter of survival on race day.”

Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) took home top honors in their respective categories at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. To repeat their titles, they’ll need to get past some of the biggest names in the sport at a race that will again be broadcasted on FS1, including eliminations coverage on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

Todd is also part of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday in Pomona. The specialty race provides a bonus purse and bonus championship points in bringing competitive racing to the Saturday schedule, and Todd will take on Bob Tasca III, with Austin Prock meeting Chad Green. The winners will face off to close out qualifying, setting the stage for a monumental Sunday of eliminations.

Just making the field will be a feat, but Todd feels as though his team is on a good path, even while taking on the likes of defending world champion Hagan, Ron Capps, John Force, Cruz Pedregon, and Alexis DeJoria. After struggles in recent seasons, Todd, who won in Sonoma last year, and his team have pushed forward, and he’s ready for a big year in 2024 after starting so well at the Gatornationals.

“We show up to win every race,” Todd said. “Leaving Gainesville as the points leader, I don’t know when the last time I was able to say that was, but it’s a long season. You want to stay up there in the top five going into the Countdown to the Championship, which is a long time from now, but hopefully, we can get a few more of these along the way and let it eat those last six races of the year.”
 
Fans can also witness 40-plus nitro cars in action this weekend in Pomona. Along with the 21-car field in Funny Car and a 17-car Top Fuel entry list, the Legends Nitro Funny Cars will be in action this weekend, pushing the number of nitro cars to well more than 40 at the second stop of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features one round at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, March 22, and the final two rounds on Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge take place at the end of final qualifying in each category. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 7 p.m. ET.
 
To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general-admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket.