TOP FUEL WINNER Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 1:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 on FS2
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 2 qualifier at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the Friday-evening session when the Mac Tools team reached the finish line in 3.661 seconds at 332.84 mph.
Eliminations: Kalitta raced to his first win of the season, his sixth at Sonoma Raceway and the 56th of his career. Kalitta defeated Ron August, Jr., and Josh Hart to reach the semifinals where, with fewer than 16 cars in the field, he had a bye into the final round against reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown. In the final, Brown was ahead in the race, but Kalitta was able to drive around him for the win.
With his sixth Sonoma win, Kalitta is now the winningest Top Fuel driver in Sonoma Raceway history. The Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer captured the first win of his career at Sonoma, and prior to today, his last win at the wine-country track was in 2005 giving him 20 years between Sonoma wins. With Shawn Langdon’s Seattle win last weekend, Team Kalitta swept NHRA’s 2025 Western Swing in Top Fuel.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Sonoma in fourth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He now trails third-place Justin Ashley by just 10 points and leads fifth-place Antron Brown by 90 points. He trails points leader Shawn Langdon by 121 points with two races remaining in the regular season.
Kalitta on Sonoma: “What an exciting day! I’m just really proud of my team here. Thanks to Mac Tools, SealMaster, Revchem, Future Energy Solutions and Toyota. Alan, Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and all my guys had my Mac Tools car running really well and getting down the track. That’s what we needed against Antron and his team because they’re always tough, but it was another good, solid run for us.
“It’s been a while since we made it to the finals so I’m glad we managed to get this win. Sonoma is actually the first place where I won so it’s cool to pull it off again today. Going rounds and getting a win will help with confidence; we’re in for the fight and looking forward to it. I just can’t say enough about Alan Johnson and my whole team here. They do one hell of a job.
“Connie was here; he just loves this stuff. It’s infectious for all of us. He’s out here supporting everything we’re doing. He’ll be smiling all the way home for sure, but my celebration is hopping in our jet and flying home tonight so I won’t be able to celebrate for a few hours.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Doug Kalitta Captures First Win of Season at NHRA Sonoma first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 1:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 on FS2
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 2 qualifier at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the Friday-evening session when the Mac Tools team reached the finish line in 3.661 seconds at 332.84 mph.
Eliminations: Kalitta raced to his first win of the season, his sixth at Sonoma Raceway and the 56th of his career. Kalitta defeated Ron August, Jr., and Josh Hart to reach the semifinals where, with fewer than 16 cars in the field, he had a bye into the final round against reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown. In the final, Brown was ahead in the race, but Kalitta was able to drive around him for the win.
With his sixth Sonoma win, Kalitta is now the winningest Top Fuel driver in Sonoma Raceway history. The Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer captured the first win of his career at Sonoma, and prior to today, his last win at the wine-country track was in 2005 giving him 20 years between Sonoma wins. With Shawn Langdon’s Seattle win last weekend, Team Kalitta swept NHRA’s 2025 Western Swing in Top Fuel.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Sonoma in fourth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He now trails third-place Justin Ashley by just 10 points and leads fifth-place Antron Brown by 90 points. He trails points leader Shawn Langdon by 121 points with two races remaining in the regular season.
Kalitta on Sonoma: “What an exciting day! I’m just really proud of my team here. Thanks to Mac Tools, SealMaster, Revchem, Future Energy Solutions and Toyota. Alan, Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and all my guys had my Mac Tools car running really well and getting down the track. That’s what we needed against Antron and his team because they’re always tough, but it was another good, solid run for us.
“It’s been a while since we made it to the finals so I’m glad we managed to get this win. Sonoma is actually the first place where I won so it’s cool to pull it off again today. Going rounds and getting a win will help with confidence; we’re in for the fight and looking forward to it. I just can’t say enough about Alan Johnson and my whole team here. They do one hell of a job.
“Connie was here; he just loves this stuff. It’s infectious for all of us. He’s out here supporting everything we’re doing. He’ll be smiling all the way home for sure, but my celebration is hopping in our jet and flying home tonight so I won’t be able to celebrate for a few hours.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Doug Kalitta Captures First Win of Season at NHRA Sonoma first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
