Back in 2006, J.R. Todd made history at Bandimere Speedway when he became the first African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel national event.

Sunday, Todd returned to victory lane at the Mile-High Nationals by defeating Brittany Force in the final round, and he was thrilled.

Todd clocked a 3.878-second lap at 317.87 mph to edge Force’s 3.968 effort.

Back in 2006, J.R. Todd made history at Bandimere Speedway when he became the first African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel national event.

Sunday, Todd returned to victory lane at the Mile-High Nationals by defeating Brittany Force in the final round, and he was thrilled.

Todd clocked a 3.878-second lap at 317.87 mph to edge Force’s 3.968 effort.

“It’s way special, these things are hard to come by whether you are full time or part time,” Todd said. “I knew once I got the opportunity to drive for the Kalitta group that it was probably the best opportunity I was ever going to have to win one of these things. I’m pretty hard on myself when one gets away that I felt we should have won and I felt like we have had a couple of shots at it this year and it just got away from us. It’s nice coming back here to the mountain and pick up the win.”

This is Todd’s seventh career win and first since 2008 when he beat Tony Schumacher in the finals at Dallas.

“The only thing missing was Conrad (Kalitta),” Todd said. “He misses one race a year and this is it because of the elevation and the heat and it’s hard on him. It’s nice to get the win for him and prove that he made the right decision in hiring me.”

Todd went from being out of a ride to getting a job as the driver of the second dragster for Kalitta Motorsports after the second round of qualifying at the March 29 event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Todd replaced veteran driver David Grubnic.

Todd qualified No. 10 at the Mile-High Nationals and proceeded to beat Terry McMillen, Steve Torrence and Larry Dixon before ousting Force.

Todd blew the motor right at the finish line against Dixon, making things hectic in the Kalitta Motorsports pits before the finals.

“I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was,” Todd said. “That’s the beauty of driving for the Kalitta gang. They have four great teams back there and all four teams were working together and it was like controlled chaos. Luckily that rain came in and slowed up the show and we were ready to go.”

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