The positives are starting to pile up for J.R. Todd and his DHL team, and things just might be coming together at the perfect time. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues June 27-29 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
Todd was the No. 3 qualifier at last week’s race near Richmond, Va.; he made three strong qualifying runs in very hot conditions and advanced to the semifinals; Todd is now sixth in points. The DHL GR Supra team’s last four qualifying positions are fourth, 10th, sixth and third. When Todd qualified 10th in New Hampshire, he won the race. Then six days later in Bristol, Tenn., he won his first Mission Foods Challenge of the season.
“I knew with the changes we made after bringing Dickie on board that it was gonna take some time,” Todd said. “I told myself not to get frustrated. We’re not there yet, but that light at the end of the tunnel may be getting a little brighter.
“We’re building some momentum at the right time. We’re closing in on the top five, which is a good place to be going into the halfway point of the season. We just need to keep qualifying well and going to the later rounds to try to gain on the cars in front of us. It’s hard to do because they go to the later rounds also. We need to capitalize when they falter, but more importantly, keep doing what we’re doing.”
Now the series heads to Norwalk, Ohio, where Todd raced early in his career; he’s never won there but has a runner-up showing. Races at Summit Motorsports Park are some of the best-attended on the circuit. Todd would love to win at a place where he gained valuable experience early in his career, but the 2018 Funny Car champion would also like to make a good showing for the Kalitta employees who will be on site.
“It’s another track where I grew up racing as a kid, somewhat close to home, and it’s the home race for everybody at Kalitta Motorsports,” Todd said. “The Bader family does a great job promoting races – they’re one of the best in the business. The fans always pack the grandstands there, and at the end of the day, we’re here to put on a good show for them. It’s the closest race to the race shop, so it’s an opportunity for families and everybody who works in the CNC shop, the Fab shop, and the front office who aren’t able to get to races during the year to come out and actually see what we do. It’s a big race for Kalitta Motorsports for sure.”
This story was originally published on June 24, 2025. 
