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Todd Goes to Semis at Finals |
Todd Turns in Semifinal Finish at Finals
POMONA, Calif., Nov. 4, 2007 – J.R. Todd said Dexter Tuttle’s SKULL Shine
Top Fuel dragster “was the one to beat” during Sunday’s Auto Club Finals and “
it was totally me” responsible for the semifinal loss to Bob Vandergriff Jr.
After recording the quickest elapsed time of the day – 4.496 seconds at 334
.24 mph (his fastest speed) – in an opening round win over Doug Kalitta, Todd
followed with a 4.508 to end Larry Dixon’s title chase. But he left the line
four-hundredths of a second too soon in the semifinals, sending Bob
Vandergriff into the final round.
“It was not the way we wanted to end the year. The car ran extremely well,”
said Todd. “We got our 330-mile an hour run and but I wanted to win this
last race for our guys and give them one last win since they are all moving
along next year and I’m moving, too.
“I want to thank Dexter for giving me the chance to drive his car for the
last two years. Without him I wouldn’t be out here. Crew chief Kevin Poynter
and the guys worked hard all season and I wish I could’ve gotten them a trophy.
”
Todd, the 2006 NHRA rookie of the year, finished the season with two
victories, the season-opener at Pomona in February and at Houston, and one runner-up
at Topeka, Kan. Overall, he has five wins in seven finals rounds.
Next up for Todd is the SCORE Off-Road Baja 1000, Nov. 10-16, starting in
Ensenada, Mexico. He will co-drive with fellow Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas in
his off-road debut. Todd is joining Lucas’ Top Fuel team for 2008. |
