Wed, 07 Oct 2015, 16:33 PM Top Fuel's J.R. Todd Takes on Determined Mindset for Championship Run Heading

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2015 Auto Imagery, Inc. To AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals

ENNIS, Texas --

J.R. Todd

After watching Antron Brown win the first thre races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, Top Fuel standout J.R. Todd knows he needs to put together his own string of impressive performances to get back in the championship conversation.

Todd also knows the type of mindset he will need to have heading into the 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 15-18 at the famed Texas Motorplex.

It is the fourth of six playoffs races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and Todd is eager to perform at a high level in his 10,000-horsepower Red Line Oil dragster for the rest of the 2015 season.

"My mindset is that I need to go out there and rip the tree every round and keep the car in the groove," said Todd, who is currently sixth in points. "Every run down the track is so crucial right now that every little thing such as how you stage the car matters.

"It's going to take wins and final round appearances along with help from the two cars up front to be able to contend for the championship by the time we get to Pomona. We need to go out and be as aggressive as possible and put pressure on those in front of us."

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. Only two races remain following the FallNationals, which means all drivers will need to be in top form to stay in championship contention or make one last push towards a world title.

That certainly includes Todd, who started the Countdown off in strong fashion, advancing to the final round in Charlotte before losing to Brown in the first final round in NHRA Mello Yello Series history to be contested by African-American drivers. But Todd couldn't keep pace with Brown in St. Louis, as the Top Fuel points leader won for the fourth straight year at Gateway Motorsports Park while Todd suffered an early exit.

It wasn't ideal, but Todd and the Connie Kalitta-owned team have proven their talents throughout the season, winning in Seattle, and know they need more championship-level performances to finish out the 2015 campaign.

J.R. Todd

"With losing first round in Reading and St. Louis and Antron winning the first three, he has definitely opened the gap and has made it really tough for us to catch him," said Todd, who has eight career victories and 13 final round appearances. "We are going to need to win some races and have some help along the way if we're going to have a shot at the championship."

Todd performed well a year ago during the Countdown to the Championship, advancing to two final rounds and finishing second overall to eight-time Top Fuel world champion Schumacher. Schumacher took control in Dallas in 2014, knocking off Todd in the final round to cement his own points lead. It was the second race in the NHRA's playoffs, but the opening race had to also be completed at the Texas Motorplex after weather delayed the finish in Charlotte.

With the race now marking the second half of the Countdown, Todd again expects the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals to mark a pivotal point of the playoffs.

"Dallas is a key race just like the other five in the Countdown," said Todd, who also advanced to the semifinals at Pomona during the Countdown in 2014. "Last year Dallas decided the championship in my eyes. Lane choice was extremely important and it played right into Schumacher's hand by going out and winning two races in one weekend from the left lane."

Brown currently leads Schumacher by 94 points in Top Fuel, but Todd will have to contend with a host of championship contenders in Dallas, including three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, four-time season winner Richie Crampton, St. Louis runner-up Dave Connolly, 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon and St. Louis No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence, a native Texan who now has acquired the services of tuning guru Alan Johnson in his corner.

Todd is eager for the challenge, however, and has some Dallas success to bank on, as Todd won the race in 2008, coincidentally beating Schumacher in the final that year. That previous victory will give him confidence heading back to the Texas Motorplex with hopes of another memorable trip to the winner's circle looming in 2015.

"I enjoy racing, period," Todd said. "I've won the Dallas event in the past so it's always nice returning to a track where you've had success. I'd love to leave there Sunday night with the trophy, a cowboy hat and a lot of points."

In Funny Car, Del Worsham after setting the national E.T. record and opened up a 90-point lead over reigning world champion Matt Hagan by knocking off the two-time champ in St. Louis to give Worsham back-to-back Countdown wins. He suffered a round one lost in Reading and playoff top seed Jack Beckman winning and setting the national E.T. record in Reading cut his lead to 16 points. Worsham will look to get back on his hot streak on the fast track in Dallas, but trying to track him down are a host of championship-caliber drivers, including Tommy Johnson Jr., John Force, Ron Capps, Kalitta Motorsports teammate Alexis DeJoria, two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson and Robert Hight.

Erica Enders has the point lead in Pro Stock, her point lead is 72 after a runner-up finish in St. Louis followed her Charlotte victory. The reigning world champion will look to get a step closer to a second world title in Dallas, but will have to deal with the likes of four-time world champion Greg Anderson, who sits in second, Allen Johnson, rookie Drew Skillman, who picked up his first career Pro Stock win in St. Louis, Larry Morgan, Chris McGaha, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion and points leader Andrew Hines will look for his third win in the Countdown after his earlier playoff win in Charlotte. Regular season points leader Eddie Krawiec now sits in second place while Hector Arana Jr., won St. Louis, is now in third. Others to watch include Jerry Savoie, who is 18 points behind Arana Jr. in fourth, Matt Smith, Chip Ellis, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Hector Arana, Jim Underdahl, and Scotty Pollacheck.

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be racing hard during the weekend in their quest to become winners of the thrilling event.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 16, with sessions at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call the Texas Motorplex at (800) 668-6775 or visit www.texasmotorplex.com.