"the ita hot seat" returns - todd odom

At the recently completed US Nationals, 20-year old Blown Alcohol racer Kenny Buzdas told me, “the difference between Professional guys and Top Alcohol guys is at the end of the day, Top Alcohol Guys BBQ!”

These personality-driven teams are often the attraction of die hard drag racing fans. Have you often wondered, what flavor of gum a Top Alcohol driver chews? How about their shoe size, or if they have any quirks which make their team interesting? Well, Insidetopalcohol.com has the section for you.

Starting in October, 2009, we debuted a new monthly feature called, “Getting to Know you”; an inside interview with some of the personalities which make up the Top Alcohol divisions in drag racing. NHRA Division 7 A/Fuel racer Johnny Ahten was the first victim. After a brief hiatus, THE ITA HOT SEAT returns!

Our second selection on the ITA HOT SEAT is the co-crew chief of one of the quickest A/Fuel Dragsters on the planet, the TIGERFLOW A/FUEL DRAGSTER tuned by Dr. Todd Odom.

ITA: Todd, thank you for taking the time to talk to the loyal readership of Will Hanna’s Insidetopalchol.com. I’d like to begin this interview by asking a simple question. Where and how did you get your start in drag racing?

TO: My first memories of racing were my Dad’s front engine top fuel car, then he had a B-fuel altered for some time before moving to lake race boats then a blown gas hydro when I was in high school. I first learned to work on the boats when I was in high school. Then I was away from racing for a while until 2004 when we went back to boat racing. I started driving a 9 second boat in 2004 then moved to a 7 second boat in 2005 that was transitioned into a top alcohol hydro. We won the SDBA championship in 2006 in Top Alcohol Hydro. Then in 2007 I had a short career as a top fuel hydro driver that ended shortly after one of the quickest 1/8 mile passes of the time 2.64 seconds which was followed a sharp left turn and an upside down ¼ mile at 5.04 seconds at 154. I had one more stint in the fuel hydro, but my heart was not in it. I had already gotten my license in A-fuel with the help of Bob Holley and had purchased a complete car that turned out to be less than complete. What a learning experience in 2008 just getting to the track and getting down the quarter mile. We did not qualify very often that year. The next year we stepped up or program with the help of Bill Reichert resulting in a nice beginning to 2009. Then with the help of Scot Johnson the car was really running hard at the end of the year. We were just not getting the wins that we would have liked.

ITA: When did you begin your working relationship with Monroe Guest?

TO: At the end of 2007 working towards 2008 we discussed splitting seat time with Shayne Lawson so we could get the car out 8 to 12 times. At that time I meet Monroe Guest and Marvin Yoder the owners of Tigerflow. They are great guys whose backing allowed us to make more laps and improve our performance through the year. This culminated in Monroe taking the wheel at the end of the year founding a relationship that I hope last for some time.

ITA: You are the co-crew chief of Monroe’s car. Who’s your partner in crime?

TO: The relationship with Shayne and Monroe lead to the meeting of Scot Johnson who has been in the tune up business for thirty years and prior to a severe injury to his leg ran an Injected Alcohol Dragster that won the AHRA and ADRA championship in 1984 and 1985.Scot came in and has moved our program forward a great deal. This year Scot has sidelined his tune up business and will be focusing on the car full time. With his eye to detail and innovating thinking were looking forward to a solid year.

ITA: You have been racing in this class for a few years now, what do you like and dislike about racing an A/fuel dragster?

TO: What’s not to like about nitro, the sound the feel and the smell. To not like, is the placement of the top cars in the sportsman class. Currently it appears we are not wanted at the divisional races, because if we are not promoted to get the fans in then we are only an expense and hassle for the track owners. And at the national events were just filler for the pro show. We need some innovative ideals to help promote our class and insure our place in the racing community. But, with the time it takes to run one of these cars on a sportsman budget it doesn’t leave much time for the promotion and a job to support our habit. Thank god that Forrest Lucas supports our class.

ITA: One of the largest arguments for racing A/Fuel at ‘altitude’ is you can’t make them run consistently. After you guys ran a 5.15 in Vegas, many people were shocked. How did you guys manage that?

TO: We were anticipating the rule changes for this year and had implemented some of the changes to help combat the new rules. And they just happened to work really well for the old rules. Obviously I can’t give up the tuning secrets Johnson would kill me.

ITA: Tell us about your driver, Monroe Guest. How did he get into drag racing?

TO: Monroe has gone fast all of his life from sprint cars to drag cars. He ran a top dragster recently and won the division 4 championship in his first full year. But, then he tasted the nitro and has been hooked ever since. Monroe is a great talent behind the wheel and we expect him to only get better with time.

ITA: Growing up did you have any hero’s or mentors in drag racing you looked up to?

TO: My Dad was my primary mentor and hero. He taught me the attention to detail and showed me the drive to race. Obviously I had the heroes of the time, Bid Daddy, Shirley Muldowny, Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, and John Force.

ITA: Outside of drag racing, what is your profession?

TO: My day job is as a Colon and Rectal Surgeon in Plano, Texas.


ITA: What is your favorite activity to do outside of the track?

TO: I like to spend time with my wife and three kids. That is my only regret is that racing takes so much time away from my family.

ITA: At the end of last season, IHRA announce the “PRO FUEL” category for their “Nitro-Jam” events. Do you guys have any interest in racing there? And if so, what kind of performance could an A/Fuel car put out running 99 percent in the tank?

TO: It would be great to run with those rules, but it would take a purpose built car to maximize the results and currently that is not in our budget. But if the track is there these cars should be able to dip into the upper 4 second range at some point.

ITA: There has got to be a great story you will always remember from your days at the track. Does one in particular strike you as memorable?

TO: My first outing behind the wheel in 2009 was at the Houston divisional last year. Everything fell into place and I won the race. What a great feeling.

ITA: Who is your toughest competitor?

TO: In NHRA almost all the cars in the circuit are tough. From the ever consistent and fast Bill Reichert to Shawn Cowie who seems to have our number. Maybe this year we will get him.

ITA: How do you feel about the way NHRA treats the A/Fuel racers in the quickest sportsman category?

TO: Again, A/Fuel is a great exciting class that doesn’t seem to fit in well at the divisional or the nationals. We need NHRA to help us develop an ADRL type model for our cars were we can get the attention and the promoters can make their money.

ITA: If you could change one thing with NHRA what would it be?

TO: That racing develops from the grass roots and they need to support and promote the racers from the lower levels up to the pros. How many people start in a top fuel car?

ITA: What are your plans for 2010 for the Tigerflow A/Fuel team?

TO: We plan to start our season in Bradenton, Florida in February and run a ten to eighteen race schedule depending on budget and success level.

ITA: Do you have any family who are racing?

TO: I am the only one currently racing.

ITA: Do you have any performance predictions for the 2010 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series?

TO: I predict an A-Fuel car will run faster than someone wants it too.