A year ago at Bandimere Speedway, elapsed times, top speeds and purse amounts took a back seat to a different kind of race. J.R. Todd, who is half-black, inserted himself into conversations he never wanted to be in.
He appreciates the fact he is the first black driver to win a top fuel race in the NHRA’s Powerade Series. But the 26-year-old, who won at Bandimere just nine races into his career, said he will be more comfortable in his skin when its color stops being an issue.
“At the time, I didn’t even realize I was the first African-American to win,” Todd said while preparing to defend his crown at this weekend’s 28th Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere. “That was the last thing on my mind. I was just so pumped up that I won my first race in such a short period of time.
“But then next day, when USA Today and CNN are calling, I’m like, ‘Holy cow, this is a big deal.’ You know, I’m not ashamed of that by any means. I’m proud to be the first to do it. … But in the end, I just want to be considered a championship-level racer.”
Todd’s career has blossomed since his debut victory at Bandimere. He won two more races last year and finished eighth in the point standings, despite competing in just 19 of 23 races.
He enters today’s qualifying sessions at Bandimere fourth in the standings, only 131 points behind leader Rod Fuller. Todd has made it to three final rounds, winning the season opener at Pomona, Calif., and the Spring Nationals three races later at Houston.
Not bad for a kid from Lawrenceburg, Ind., who started racing junior dragsters when he was 10. His parents – his father was a construction project manager and his mother an office manager for a law firm – gave their son chances to drive nationally in the youth program.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Todd said. “They sacrificed a lot of money and time for me to reach my dream.”
In 2000, Todd and his parents provided funding to team up with Bruce Litton of Indianapolis for an International Hot Rod Association stint in top fuel dragsters. When the money ran out, Todd worked as a mechanic for Litton’s team for two years, and then for Bob Gilbertson’s NHRA funny car team for three.
He signed a part-time driving deal with current owner Dexter Tuttle at the beginning of 2006, and solidified his presence in the series a year ago at Bandimere, where he had previously driven only youth cars with lawn-mower-type powered engines.
“Ask J.R. about the black thing and he’ll laugh that off,” said Gary Scelzi, the four-time funny car world champion who won funny car at Bandimere last year. “J.R. is a race car driver, and he went from junior dragsters to top fuel. I don’t know too many people that could do that.”
Scelzi suspects Todd would succeed at any type of racing.
“A month ago we did a celebrity race in a dirt car, something he’s never even sat in, and after two laps he was as fast as anybody, and he went on to win the thing,” Scelzi said. “He just has a lot of natural ability, a lot of feel for a race car. Black, green, purple – it doesn’t matter. This kid has talent.”
