YPSILANTI, Mich. (Sept. 16, 2025) – For the first time this season, 2023 Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta finds himself atop the point standings. He got there through a wild day of eliminations in Reading, Pa., and looks to maintain that lofty position this weekend. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs continue with the second of six playoff races Sept. 19-21 at the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C.
Kalitta didn’t win the first playoff race last weekend, but he came as close as he could have and took the points lead after the first of six Countdown races. He defeated Antron Brown and then points leader Tony Stewart in a wild second round that ended with a crash that took out both race cars. Forced to go to the backup car, made race ready by all three Kalitta Motorsports teams, the Mac Tools Toyota team advanced to the final round with a semifinal win over Steve Torrence. In the final, the Mac Tools car smoked the tires allowing Shawn Reed to cruise to victory, but it was enough to put Kalitta on top of the standings.
“We were able to get going again after that,” Kalitta said. We got the spare car out and made a really good run in the semifinals so really proud of my guys for all their hard work to keep us going on Sunday. It was really cool to get into the final at Maple Grove – we were able to shake that whole thing off, and we’re moving on.
“It’s definitely good (to lead the points), and it would be really good to stay there,” Kalitta added. “There’s a lot of rounds left so I just hope we can keep going rounds and be there at the end. We have a great group of guys and great people behind us like Mac Tools, SealMaster, Fifth Third Bank, Superior and Revchem. Hopefully, we can all just settle in, keep doing our jobs and give ourselves another shot at it this weekend.”
Kalitta seeks his third zMAX Dragway win this weekend. His most-recent victory there happened two years ago when he won the first two playoff races and clinched the 2023 championship in an epic winner-take-all final round at the season’s last race. For now, though, it’s all about focusing on the next round and only on the next round.
“It’s all about collecting round wins at this point,” Kalitta said. “Each time you go up to the starting line, it’s a new opportunity. We want to stay towards the front. Qualifying is huge, and we’ve been qualifying up towards the front so it can give you a little better opportunity to let things settle in on race day. Hopefully, we can keep that up, but it’s drag racing – you never know what’s going to happen. The boys are hungry to get going again so a win would definitely be nice.”
This weekend’s race will utilize the four-wide format for the first time in the Countdown; the format is a staple of the season’s opening months but makes its playoff debut this weekend. It’s a format Kalitta enjoys – especially after winning his first four-wide race last season.
“Four-Wide will be good in the Playoffs as long as your car is running well, and you can just keep going rounds. Two cars moving on will be kind of an interesting concept. I’ve always liked the four-wide races. It’s just something different, and you have to just sort of see different things from what you’re used to; it’s just more of a challenge. I know it’ll be good. For me, I just try to keep doing the same thing and hope that you can have everything come together. Charlotte’s a great track; I think the conditions will be similar to Reading, and we’ll be ready.”
Race Information:
NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals zMAX Dragway; Concord, N.C.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 3; bead Tony Stewart and Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 622 events, 57 wins, 65 runner-up, 827 round wins, 65 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (Wins in Italics):
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Kalitta didn’t win the first playoff race last weekend, but he came as close as he could have and took the points lead after the first of six Countdown races. He defeated Antron Brown and then points leader Tony Stewart in a wild second round that ended with a crash that took out both race cars. Forced to go to the backup car, made race ready by all three Kalitta Motorsports teams, the Mac Tools Toyota team advanced to the final round with a semifinal win over Steve Torrence. In the final, the Mac Tools car smoked the tires allowing Shawn Reed to cruise to victory, but it was enough to put Kalitta on top of the standings.
“We were able to get going again after that,” Kalitta said. We got the spare car out and made a really good run in the semifinals so really proud of my guys for all their hard work to keep us going on Sunday. It was really cool to get into the final at Maple Grove – we were able to shake that whole thing off, and we’re moving on.
“It’s definitely good (to lead the points), and it would be really good to stay there,” Kalitta added. “There’s a lot of rounds left so I just hope we can keep going rounds and be there at the end. We have a great group of guys and great people behind us like Mac Tools, SealMaster, Fifth Third Bank, Superior and Revchem. Hopefully, we can all just settle in, keep doing our jobs and give ourselves another shot at it this weekend.”
Kalitta seeks his third zMAX Dragway win this weekend. His most-recent victory there happened two years ago when he won the first two playoff races and clinched the 2023 championship in an epic winner-take-all final round at the season’s last race. For now, though, it’s all about focusing on the next round and only on the next round.
“It’s all about collecting round wins at this point,” Kalitta said. “Each time you go up to the starting line, it’s a new opportunity. We want to stay towards the front. Qualifying is huge, and we’ve been qualifying up towards the front so it can give you a little better opportunity to let things settle in on race day. Hopefully, we can keep that up, but it’s drag racing – you never know what’s going to happen. The boys are hungry to get going again so a win would definitely be nice.”
This weekend’s race will utilize the four-wide format for the first time in the Countdown; the format is a staple of the season’s opening months but makes its playoff debut this weekend. It’s a format Kalitta enjoys – especially after winning his first four-wide race last season.
“Four-Wide will be good in the Playoffs as long as your car is running well, and you can just keep going rounds. Two cars moving on will be kind of an interesting concept. I’ve always liked the four-wide races. It’s just something different, and you have to just sort of see different things from what you’re used to; it’s just more of a challenge. I know it’ll be good. For me, I just try to keep doing the same thing and hope that you can have everything come together. Charlotte’s a great track; I think the conditions will be similar to Reading, and we’ll be ready.”
Race Information:
NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals zMAX Dragway; Concord, N.C.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show: 10 a.m.-Noon Sunday, Sept. 21 on FS1
- Finals: Noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 on FS1
2024 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 3; bead Tony Stewart and Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 622 events, 57 wins, 65 runner-up, 827 round wins, 65 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (Wins in Italics):
- Gainesville: Qualified No. 4; defeated Ida Zetterstrom; lost to Steve Torence.
- Phoenix: Qualified No. 1; defeated Travis Shumake, Bye and Jasmine Salinas; lost to Shawn Langdon.
- Pomona: Qualified No. 2: defeated Scott Palmer before losing to Tony Stewart.
- Las Vegas: Qualified No. 1: defeated Clay Millican, Bye, lost to Tony Stewart and Justin Ashley.
- Charlotte: Qualified No. 1; Lost to Tony Stewart, Clay Millican and Lex Joon.
- Chicago: Qualified No. 1; defeated Lex Joon and Josh Hart, lost to Justin Ashley.
- Epping: Qualified No. 1; defeated Bye and Ida Zetterstrom; lost to Brittany Force.
- Bristol: Qualified No. 9; lost to Josh Hart.
- Richmond: Qualified No. 7; defeated Antron Brown and Clay Millican; lost to Justin Ashley
- Norwalk: Qualified No. 15; defeated Antron Brown; lost to Clay Millican.
- Seattle: Qualified No. 1; defeated Bye and Justin Ashley; lost to Brittany Force.
- Sonoma: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron August, Jr., Josh Hart, Bye and Antron Brown.
- Brainerd: Qualified No. 1; defeated Terry Totten, Bye, Billy Torrence and Clay Millican.
- Indianapolis: Qualified No. 4; Defeated Tony Schumacher, lost to Justin Ashley.
- Reading: Qualified No. 3; defeated Antron Brown, Tony Stewart and Steve Torrence; lost to Shawn Reed.
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