Bio

J. R. Todd, a leading drag racer and crew chief, was the first African American to win a Top Fuel competition sponsored by the National Hot Rod Association. He was born Mario Luther Todd Jr. in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on December 16, 1981. At a very young age, he rode four-wheelers and dirt bikes. Idolizing his father, who suffered injuries from motorcycle racing, he discouraged his son’s interest in the sport. Nonetheless, Todd retained an interest in automobile mechanics and junior dragster racing, thus obtaining his Top Fuel dragster license one week after graduating from Lawrenceburg High School.