Top Fuel: The pinnacle of modern drag racing. The baddest machines on the planet. The kings of the sport.

But the fastest? That distinction now belongs to the Funny Car camp.

When J.R. Todd made the switch from Top Fuel to Funny Car at the beginning of this year, he knew he was making a big move. But what he didn’t expect was that he would be switching out of the former kings of speed in drag racing to the new fastest ride on the planet.

“I knew going into the class that I was getting involved in the toughest class in drag racing, in my opinion,” Todd said. “What I didn’t expect was just how much the performance would go up. You have to throw down every time you go to the starting line, whether it is a 130 degree track or an 80 degree track. Guys can throw out big numbers and that is what it takes.

“Two years ago this thing would run 3.90s and they were ahead of everybody. Now, 3.90 won’t get you in the top half at most races. We have our work cut out for us this year.”

Through the first half of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello season, Todd is receiving a passing grade, but just barely. He is holding tight to a spot in the Countdown to the Championship in ninth, but he is only 6-11 in eliminations and has failed to make it out of the first round six times this year. But Todd is hoping that, entering the second half of the year, he will find some momentum and begin moving up the rankings and, hopefully, contend for a win or two.

“As far as being comfortable in the car, people ask me that every week,” Todd said. “We are beyond that. It is time to start winning races and winning rounds. You still learn every run, it was the same with the Top Fuel car. You never have these things mastered and once you think you do, they throw you a curveball. We are still learning different things with the Funny Car, but we are having fun doing it.”