Torrence, Todd win at Sonoma Nationals
J.R. Todd made little of the historic significance tied to his victory in Sunday’s 30th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals before close to 30,000 fans at Sonoma Raceway.
The 36-year-old from Lawrenceburg, Ind., won for the first time in his Kalitta Team Funny Car, becoming the 16th driver and first African American to win races in both nitro classes, the top two divisions of the NHRA.
The 5-foot-6, 140-pounder won nine times in Top Fuel, including last year in Sonoma. On Sunday, he joined season leaders Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and 18-year-old Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) in the winners’ circle.
Todd (4.049 seconds, 323.27 mph) defeated Tim Wilkerson, who had engine problems, in the final to win for the first time in his first season in Funny Car.
“I don’t know that it really matters if you’re black or white or purple, boy or girl,” he said. “With my helmet on, nobody in the stands has any idea what I look like. I’m just happy to win for a first time in this division.”
Mostly, he was happy to win for a friend.
For the second straight season, Todd dedicated his win to
the late Eric Medlen, a 2006 event champion for the John Force race team.
Medlen, a native of Oakdale (Stanislaus County), was a wildly popular driver at the track — he’s honored every year with an ice cream social after the event — and last year Medlen’s mother, Mimi, asked Todd to carry her son’s picture with him.
Todd tucked the artwork in his race suit before he came away with his only Top Fuel victory of 2016. Mimi brought him another portrait of Medlen before Sunday’s finals and Todd responded with wins over teammate Alexis Dejoria, 16-time champion John Force and Jack Beckman en route to the finals.
“Eric was so passionate about Funny Car,” Todd said. “It worked out again. I’m glad I could honor him.
“This is a magical place. I love this track. I can’t afford to live in this area, but I might ask (Sonoma Raceway president and general manager) Steve (Page) if he has an extra room to rent.”
Todd knew it was his day with an epic semifinal win over Beckman. Todd smoked his tires early in the 1,000-foot race. But Beckman’s engine failed at 700 feet. Beckman pedaled hard, gained traction and won at the line, 5.741 to 5.920.
“I just hoped I had enough room to get by him,” Todd said. “In every race, you need an element of luck, and we got some there.”
There was no luck involved in Torrence’s title, his sixth of the season in eight finals. The season leader in the sport’s fastest division defeated Don Schumacher Racing’s Antron Brown, 3.784-329.42 to 3.974-281.83.
The 34-year-old breezed to wins over Troy Coughlin, Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force on the way to the final, the 14th of his career but first at Sonoma.
“I love this place and always wanted to win here,” Torrence said. “The longer you do this, the more places you like to win, and winning here is icing on the cake.
“It’s basically been just a dream season. At the end of the day, it’s just a testament to my guys.”
The win and series lead is particularly satisfying to Torrence, who drives independently.
“Sometimes it’s a struggle,” he said. “You’re sort of on an island. But it’s definitely way more gratifying to get these wins and have the success we’re having. Everyone on our team are like brothers to me. We can all throw our chests out and walk with a little swagger.”
Gray and Tonglet raced to narrow wins in the finals. Gray defeated Bo Butner 6.572 to 6.577 in Pro Stock for his third win of the year, and Tonglet edged Matt Smith 6.783 to 6.790 for his fifth win of the year and 15th of his career.
No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Leah Pritchett (track record 3.669 on Friday) lost a second-round race to Terry McMillen (3.783 to 3.897).
Brittany Force broke the track Top Fuel speed mark at 331.61 mph in a first-round win.