Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
2025 NHRA Route 66 NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1; defeated Lex Joon and Josh Hart; lost to Justin Ashley
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 631 events, 60 wins, 69 runners-up, 852 round wins, 67 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“Before the first race, Alan (Crew Chief Alan Johnson) told me we’d have to run really hard to keep up with Shawn and Brian (Langdon Crew Chief Brian Husen) so that set the stage for our mentality. Mr. 345 is over there with some incredible runs with those speeds. I don’t know what they’re doing over there with Shawn’s car, but it’s very impressive. We’re definitely gonna have to work hard to outrun Shawn because he’s definitely running well.
“The rest of these cats are all just as good. It’s definitely gonna be one of those years. Justin (Ashley) is rippin’ off whatever his reaction times are, and we’re all trying to keep up with him so it’s going to be competitive. It’ll be a lot of fun.
“With our deal, I have to give the credit to Connie and Chad (Team Owner Connie Kalitta and General Manager Chad Head); those two are really the key. Chad is working with the crew chiefs on whatever he needs to do to support the efforts of the guys we put in charge of these teams and trying to make sure the chemistry is good. If you know Chad, he’s a detail guy; he’s always on the phone making deals and making something happen. I give a lot of credit to Chad for sure.
“The Mac Tools guys are putting the thing together the same every time so it’s repeatable for what they’re trying to do tuning this thing. Really, it’s a helluva team effort. Alan is very focused; he and Mac (Crew Chief Mac Savage) have a handle on this thing. I’m just incredibly fortunate Alan’s my guy.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Doug Kalitta’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
The post Doug Kalitta Seeks Fourth Windy City Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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2025 NHRA Route 66 NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 1; defeated Lex Joon and Josh Hart; lost to Justin Ashley
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 631 events, 60 wins, 69 runners-up, 852 round wins, 67 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
- Doug Kalitta enters the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in second place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, is the points leader making Team Kalitta one-two in points following the season’s fifth race.
- With J.R. Todd atop the Funny Car standings, Team Kalitta leads the points in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
- The Team Kalitta dragsters have been phenomenal this season. With the exception of the final round in Pomona, at least one Team Kalitta driver competed in every round of Top Fuel racing in the season’s first five races. At the last race, the final round was an all-Team Kalitta affair with Langdon taking the win over Kalitta.
- The two-time and defending NHRA Top Fuel champion has a win, two runners-up and two semifinals in the season’s first five races.
- Kalitta has three wins at Route 66 Raceway and is undefeated when reaching the final round there. He also has four No. 1 qualifiers in Joliet – most recently, last season.
- Kalitta’s 60 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:
“Before the first race, Alan (Crew Chief Alan Johnson) told me we’d have to run really hard to keep up with Shawn and Brian (Langdon Crew Chief Brian Husen) so that set the stage for our mentality. Mr. 345 is over there with some incredible runs with those speeds. I don’t know what they’re doing over there with Shawn’s car, but it’s very impressive. We’re definitely gonna have to work hard to outrun Shawn because he’s definitely running well.
“The rest of these cats are all just as good. It’s definitely gonna be one of those years. Justin (Ashley) is rippin’ off whatever his reaction times are, and we’re all trying to keep up with him so it’s going to be competitive. It’ll be a lot of fun.
“With our deal, I have to give the credit to Connie and Chad (Team Owner Connie Kalitta and General Manager Chad Head); those two are really the key. Chad is working with the crew chiefs on whatever he needs to do to support the efforts of the guys we put in charge of these teams and trying to make sure the chemistry is good. If you know Chad, he’s a detail guy; he’s always on the phone making deals and making something happen. I give a lot of credit to Chad for sure.
“The Mac Tools guys are putting the thing together the same every time so it’s repeatable for what they’re trying to do tuning this thing. Really, it’s a helluva team effort. Alan is very focused; he and Mac (Crew Chief Mac Savage) have a handle on this thing. I’m just incredibly fortunate Alan’s my guy.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Doug Kalitta’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 7:30-9 p.m. Friday, May 15 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 11:30-12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16 on FS1
- Finals: 35-8 p.m. Sunday, May 17 on FS1
The post Doug Kalitta Seeks Fourth Windy City Win first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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