WIX Filters-supported drivers J.R. Todd (NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Funny Car) and Alex Keyes (Red Bull Global Rallycross, GRC Lites) participated in a ride swap over the last few days, with Keyes paying a visit to Todd’s most recent NHRA race in Las Vegas for his first nitro experience and Todd swinging back to Indianapolis to check out Keyes’ world of rallycross.
The release with full details is below:
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Just days after Global Rallycross driver Alex Keyes experienced nitro for the first time, J.R. Todd completed the crossover as he stepped behind the wheel of Keyes’ WIX Filters machine this morning.
At a closed test session in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway, Keyes drove Todd around the prepped track before turning over the wheel completely to Todd. The NHRA veteran made two three-lap segments and was completely blown away.
“It is pretty cool to be driving around here where we typically park our 18-wheelers when we are here racing,” said Todd, driver of the DHL/WIX Filters Toyota Camry Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports. “It gives you a new respect for what these guys do. You are shifting gears going all the way around the course, it is a lot of fun. It is easy to go as fast as you can on the straightaways, but then you got get on the brakes to get on the corners that are always coming up. Huge thanks to Alex and the WIX Filters team for having me out.”
Blown away could also discribe Keyes’ experience as he stood behind a 10,000-horsepower nitro-burning machine just days ago as Todd qualified for the Las Vegas Nationals on Friday.
“It was so sweet. I have seen NHRA on TV and I know they are fast, but it just does not do them justice,” said Keyes, driver of the WIX Filters GRC Lite for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “First off, I did not know that they ran on nitro, so I was crying a little bit. Then got to the starting line and wasn’t anticipating it and I jumped. After that, I got to watch about 10 runs. When you know its coming it is sweet. You feel it through your chest and it is definitely a cool experience.”
Both are making plans to attend the other’s actual events this season. Currently, Todd sits 10th in the NHRA point standings after four of 24 events, while Keyes will make his 2017 debut at the GRC season opener in Memphis at the end of the month.