- [Announcer] On the starting line,
the funny car finalists, that include
our champion, J.R. Todd, in the DHL Toyota.
[Racing engines]
Can he finish the year in style?
Yes, he can!
[Cheering]
[Upbeat music]
- Growing up, I feel like I was pretty much born and raised
at the track, watching you race.
You're one of the most famous guys in town,
everybody knew about your racing then.
Me, I thought that was cool,
just how popular you were, y'all throughout town.
- [Mario] I kind of went from you being my son,
to me being your dad,
since you became the famous one of the town,
or the family.
- How you doin'? - [Fan] Good, how are you?
- Good, here you go. - Thank you.
- He's still the famous one.
[Racing engines]
- Remember when you were, y'know ...
three or four years old, we'd had you at the track,
but we were afraid that you were gonna get hurt.
[Rock music] - [J.R.] What made me mad,
I'd say, when I was around eight years old,
was I had a perfectly good, brand-new dirt bike
that just sat in the garage.
And then every now and then I'd go out there and sit on it
and maybe start it,
but I was never allowed to go ride it.
- Your mom, she was in favor of letting you ride it,
I was just scared to death you were gonna hurt yourself.
[Rock music]
Do you remember when you first learned how to drive?
- [J.R.] Well, I started racing junior drag when I was 10,
so by the time you're old enough
to get your learner's permit,
you pretty much know the fundamentals and basics of driving.
- [Mario] One week we were in Puerto Rico racing
junior dragsters, the next week we're like in Texas,
so it seemed like a way of life,
even when you were, you know, 10 years old.
I don't think you crashed much back then.
- If I did, I wouldn't tell you anyways.
- No.
[Rock music]
- [Announcer] J.R. Todd with an exclamation point!
- [J.R.] You guys have seen a lot
throughout my years of racing.
- And your racing has allowed your mom and I
to do a lot of things, you know.
Travel to the Mideast.
- [J.R.] I was in the Middle East, racing,
we were able to win when you and Mom were there,
so that was pretty special.
- How many times do you see a camel in back
of a Toyota pickup truck that's ratchet-strapped down?
[Upbeat music]
- [Announcer] And why not J.R. Todd?
Back-to-back wins!
There is going to be a party
in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, tonight.
- Whew!
- I think we've probably grown tighter, if anything,
'cause you letting us share your life,
it's kind of neat being at the track
hanging out with everybody.
- [J.R.] You guys have no idea. When you're not out here,
everybody's worried that something's wrong,
or why you guys aren't at the race,
and you guys have, I think,
way more fans out here than I do.
- [Mario] Your mom and I have always probably told you
we're going to be your best race fans,
that we want to come to watch you race.
We want to be there first-hand.
- [J.R.] It's great to be able to win.
When you share the winner's circle with you,
and win a championship,
that's the only way I could ever pay you and Mom back
for everything you did to get me to this point
in my career.
- [Mario] Well, I'm glad you never gave up,
and for you to persevere is ... proud of you.
[Racing engines]
- [Announcer] And the four-wide win goes to J.R. Todd!
- [J.R.] You guys have been there
through the highs and lows,
you've always told me, you know,
"Stay positive and stick with it, things will work out,"
and they did for sure.
- [Mario] It did work out.
Again, I'm 100% behind you,
but anytime you want to give this up,
I'm 110% behind you.
- I'm not giving up anytime soon.
- [Announcer] Got to be exhausted, a mental wringer!
But not too exhausted to celebrate.
[Rock music]