Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
2025 NHRA Arizona Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1.; defeated Travis Shumake, Bye, Jasmine Salinas; lost to Shawn Langdon.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 627 events, 59 wins, 68 runners-up, 842 round wins, 66 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“We definitely feel confident going into Phoenix after the first race of the year. The Mac Tools car was running really well all day. For some crazy reason, it dropped that cylinder in the final, but that was a good start for us; obviously, any time you can go rounds, it’s a good thing. My guys are looking pretty good; we should be in good shape for Phoenix this weekend.
“It’s nice to be back in the Mission Foods event – it’s fun racing on Saturday; it kind of gets you a little more ready for Sunday. I think it’s something the fans enjoy, and I think the racers do as well. When Mission Foods started this thing, I have to admit, I thought it was a great idea and certainly appreciated by our team and anybody else I’ve ever talked to about it.
“It should be interesting with the heat this weekend; it supposed to be in the 70s in the morning, so it’ll be a big temperature swing during the day. With the new times we’re running, the conditions might not be too bad. Maybe on Sunday, it might be a little different, but everybody will have couple days on the track to see what we need to do to keep the thing hooked up.
“I look forward to it. It’s just another element to what we’re doing. Really, I think, between the guys that work on my car and Alan and Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage), the guys that tune the thing, are just incredible. I think they’re more than capable of having a very competitive car under any conditions. I’m very fortunate that when I look up, Alan is the guy adjusting my clutch controller – it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Doug Kalitta’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
The post Doug Kalitta Primed for Desert Heat at Second Race of NHRA Season first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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2025 NHRA Arizona Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1.; defeated Travis Shumake, Bye, Jasmine Salinas; lost to Shawn Langdon.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 627 events, 59 wins, 68 runners-up, 842 round wins, 66 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
- Doug Kalitta was the runner up at the NHRA Gatornationals two weeks ago missing the race win when the Mac Tools dragster dropped a cylinder almost immediately. It was Kalitta’s fourth final round in Gainesville, Fla., but the first time he did not win the race after reaching the final.
- When Kalitta advanced to the semifinals two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla., he earned a spot in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge this weekend. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in Gainesville will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
- Kalitta has one win and five runner up finishes along with seven No. 1 qualifiers at Firebird Motorsports Park. One year ago, he was the No. 1 qualifier and lost to his teammate, Shawn Langdon in the final round.
- With this weekend’s Phoenix weather forecast featuring record-high temperatures, the race weekend schedule moved earlier in anticipation of the extreme desert heat. Qualifying will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sunday’s elimination rounds will also begin at 10 a.m.
- Kalitta’s 59 race wins place him fourth all-time in Top Fuel wins and 12th overall. His 66 career No. 1 qualifiers place him tied with Kenny Bernstein for seventh all-time. He is seventh all-time in round wins
- Kalitta is a two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion (2023, ’25) and a member of the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Pre-Race Quotes:
“We definitely feel confident going into Phoenix after the first race of the year. The Mac Tools car was running really well all day. For some crazy reason, it dropped that cylinder in the final, but that was a good start for us; obviously, any time you can go rounds, it’s a good thing. My guys are looking pretty good; we should be in good shape for Phoenix this weekend.
“It’s nice to be back in the Mission Foods event – it’s fun racing on Saturday; it kind of gets you a little more ready for Sunday. I think it’s something the fans enjoy, and I think the racers do as well. When Mission Foods started this thing, I have to admit, I thought it was a great idea and certainly appreciated by our team and anybody else I’ve ever talked to about it.
“It should be interesting with the heat this weekend; it supposed to be in the 70s in the morning, so it’ll be a big temperature swing during the day. With the new times we’re running, the conditions might not be too bad. Maybe on Sunday, it might be a little different, but everybody will have couple days on the track to see what we need to do to keep the thing hooked up.
“I look forward to it. It’s just another element to what we’re doing. Really, I think, between the guys that work on my car and Alan and Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage), the guys that tune the thing, are just incredible. I think they’re more than capable of having a very competitive car under any conditions. I’m very fortunate that when I look up, Alan is the guy adjusting my clutch controller – it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Doug Kalitta’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
The post Doug Kalitta Primed for Desert Heat at Second Race of NHRA Season first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
