YPSILANTI, Mich. (July 22, 2025) – Doug Kalitta didn’t win last weekend’s race near Seattle, but his Mac Tools dragster was absolutely up to the task he hopes to complete this weekend. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues July 25-27 at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Somona, Calif.
The Mac Tools Toyota team was clearly on a heater last weekend. Kalitta claimed his sixth No. 1 qualifier in the season’s first 11 races, and race day appeared to be more of the same. In the first round, Kalitta’s 3.628-second pass at 341.34 mph was the quickest and fastest of his career, the second quickest run in NHRA history, and at the time, the third fastest speed in NHRA history. His 3.676-second pass in the second round put him into the semifinals against Brittany Force. Kalitta left the starting line first and was leading the race when the Mac Tools car had engine problems giving the win to Force. It was a day that seemed as though it could have become Kalitta’s first win of the season.
“Sunday was another opportunity, and we were hoping to get to the final and have a shot at it,” Kalitta said. “It’s been a while since we went to a final so we were hoping to get it done. I felt really good about the weekend. The car was really good, and we definitely had a good opportunity. You have to take advantage of those opportunities when you have them; we’re hoping to have another opportunity this weekend in Sonoma and give it another shot. With the team I have behind me, I know it’s just a matter of time before we get it done.”
And there’s no time like the present. If Kalitta is to challenge for the $150,000 regular season championship bonus, he has just three races to catch his teammate, Shawn Langdon, and take the points lead.
“This is definitely the time to start picking up the pace and get all those gremlins out of the way so hopefully we can accomplish that and see what happens,” Kalitta said. “We have Sonoma this weekend; then it’s Brainerd, and Indy will be here before you know it; it’s amazing how quickly this year’s gone so the momentum with everybody doing what they’re doing is really important, We have a heck of an effort with all the Mac Tools, Toyota, Revchem and SealMaster folks – we have a lot of support from all the Mac Tools franchisees and the fans so we’re looking forward to Sonoma and enjoying the rest of our West coast stretch.”
Race Information:
Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma Raceway; Sonoma, Calif.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1; lost to Ron August.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 618 events, 55 wins, 65 runner-up, 815 round wins, 64 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
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The Mac Tools Toyota team was clearly on a heater last weekend. Kalitta claimed his sixth No. 1 qualifier in the season’s first 11 races, and race day appeared to be more of the same. In the first round, Kalitta’s 3.628-second pass at 341.34 mph was the quickest and fastest of his career, the second quickest run in NHRA history, and at the time, the third fastest speed in NHRA history. His 3.676-second pass in the second round put him into the semifinals against Brittany Force. Kalitta left the starting line first and was leading the race when the Mac Tools car had engine problems giving the win to Force. It was a day that seemed as though it could have become Kalitta’s first win of the season.
“Sunday was another opportunity, and we were hoping to get to the final and have a shot at it,” Kalitta said. “It’s been a while since we went to a final so we were hoping to get it done. I felt really good about the weekend. The car was really good, and we definitely had a good opportunity. You have to take advantage of those opportunities when you have them; we’re hoping to have another opportunity this weekend in Sonoma and give it another shot. With the team I have behind me, I know it’s just a matter of time before we get it done.”
And there’s no time like the present. If Kalitta is to challenge for the $150,000 regular season championship bonus, he has just three races to catch his teammate, Shawn Langdon, and take the points lead.
“This is definitely the time to start picking up the pace and get all those gremlins out of the way so hopefully we can accomplish that and see what happens,” Kalitta said. “We have Sonoma this weekend; then it’s Brainerd, and Indy will be here before you know it; it’s amazing how quickly this year’s gone so the momentum with everybody doing what they’re doing is really important, We have a heck of an effort with all the Mac Tools, Toyota, Revchem and SealMaster folks – we have a lot of support from all the Mac Tools franchisees and the fans so we’re looking forward to Sonoma and enjoying the rest of our West coast stretch.”
Race Information:
Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma Raceway; Sonoma, Calif.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 10-11:30 p.m. Friday, July 25 on FS1
- Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Show: 6-7 p.m. Saturday, July 26 on FOX
- Qualifying Show 1: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 27 on FS1
- Finals: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, July 27 on FOX
2024 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1; lost to Ron August.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 618 events, 55 wins, 65 runner-up, 815 round wins, 64 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date:
- 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.
The post DOUG KALITTA SEEKS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN SONOMA first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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