GAINESVILLE, Fla. — J.R. Todd’s victory on the season-opening Gatornationals ended the NHRA’s longest successful streak by one juggernaut and spoiled the much-hyped return of one other.

Todd beat Robert Hight within the Humorous Automotive finale Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, crossing the end line first after each drivers had hassle getting traction on a sizzling and slippery observe. Hight was trying to give John Power Racing a dramatic return to the drag-racing collection after the staff sat out most of final 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But it surely was Todd celebrating with a Wally Trophy in a single hand and a bottle of champagne within the different. Todd cracked open a can of beer in his pit stall as he mirrored on one of many largest wins of his profession at a observe the place longtime buddy Eric Medlen died in 2007. Todd already had notched wins at three of the NHRA’s 4 majors: the U.S. Nationals, the Winternationals and the NHRA Finals.

“Having the ability to win all of the majors which might be left on the schedule, that is fairly particular,” Todd mentioned.

By the point Todd and his Kalitta Motorsports staff made the Humorous Automotive finale, Don Schumacher Racing already had began packing up for the day. The powerhouse staff had received 14 consecutive occasions in Humorous Automotive, the longest streak in NHRA historical past.

Schumacher was pressured to chop his four-car staff in half this season, parting methods with Tommy Johnson Jr. and 2012 champion Jack Beckman due to sponsorship points. Defending champion Matt Hagan and No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps had been left to attempt to lengthen the streak. Bob Tasca knocked out each within the elimination rounds Sunday, primarily clearing the best way for Todd.

“We had been undoubtedly getting bored with getting our butts kicked by them final 12 months, however 2021 is a brand new 12 months,” Todd mentioned. “It is a great way to start out off the season with a win in one of many largest races of the 12 months.”

Todd raised some eyebrows final week by saying, “successful this 12 months, there will not be an asterisk.”

“I am not knocking the competitors, by any means, as a result of DSR cleaned home final 12 months,” he mentioned. “However we did not get to run a full schedule and the Power vehicles weren’t on the market.

“Everyone on the market in Humorous Automotive is hard, however for my part, Robert Hight is the perfect driver within the class and that groups units the benchmark for the remainder of us. After they’re out right here competing and also you beat them in a closing spherical, you’re feeling like, you are like, ‘Ah, that is one thing.'”

It was Todd’s tenth win in Humorous Automotive, turning into simply the 18th driver to achieve double digits within the class. This one appeared so much like his first one in 2017, when he received a spin-fest in Sonoma, California.

“I assumed for positive he was going to be driving away from me,” Todd mentioned. “I by no means seen him. Simply sort of rolled again into the throttle and went all the best way down with it and turned on the win gentle. Fairly particular to do right here in Gainesville.”

Josh Hart, who lives in close by Ocala, was the shock winner in High Gasoline. The proprietor/driver beat Shawn Langdon to win his first nationwide collection occasion. Greg Anderson received the professional inventory class on his sixtieth birthday, and Matt Smith received the pro-stock bike division.

Hart had been scheduled to make his High Gasoline debut final 12 months with Bob Vandergriff Racing. However after the pandemic, Vandergriff and Hart determined it could be finest for Hart to personal his personal staff.

“Clearly, it isn’t all the time going to be this straightforward,” Hart mentioned.