JOLIET, Ill. (May 16, 2026) – – The Team Kalitta Top Fuel prowess extended into Joliet, Ill., when Doug Kalitta took his second-straight No. 1 qualifier, and Shawn Langdon won his first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season. The Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak is set for tomorrow; the race broadcast is scheduled for 5 p.m. eastern time on FSI.
Kalitta made strong runs in three of the four qualifying sessions, but his best effort came in the second session late Friday afternoon when he reached the finish line in 3.720 seconds at 338.17 mph to claim his second-straight No. 1 qualifier, his second-straight at Route 66 Raceway, his second of the season and the 68th of his career.
“We’re just trying as hard as we can – we have our heads down trying to beat everybody out here,” Kalitta said. “The low qualifier is good for us, and Shawn won the Mission Foods race. Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) is backing everything we’re doing out here along with Mac Tools, Revchem, Mobil 1 and everyone that helps us get it done. The Mac Tools car was good in that last session, so we’ll see what we have for tomorrow.”
Langdon won the Mission Foods Challenge five times last season, and today’s win is his first of 2026. He defeated Clay Millican in the first round setting up a final-round meeting with Justin Ashley who defeated Kalitta to make the final. The cars left the starting line together, but Langdon made his best run of the weekend to win the race with a 3.770-second effort at 334.73 mph.
“It’s Team Kalitta, man,” Langdon said. “Our leader, Connie Kalitta (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) gives us everything we need to win races. Great job to the Kalitta Air Careers team. We struggled a little bit in qualifying, and we knew we needed a big move there trying to get this win and put ourselves in a better position for tomorrow. The little (championship) points we won today all add up in the end so it’s a big win for us; we’re very happy with that, and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
With 15 Top Fuel cars in Joliet, Kalitta will have a first-round bye on Sunday. Langdon is the No. 9 qualifier and will race No. 8 qualifier Shawn Reed. In Funny Car, J.R. Todd is the No. 6 qualifier and will race No. 11 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in Sunday’s opening round.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post DOUG KALITTA TAKES JOLIET NO. 1 QUALIFIER; SHAWN LANGDON WINS MISSION FOODS CHALLENGE first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Kalitta made strong runs in three of the four qualifying sessions, but his best effort came in the second session late Friday afternoon when he reached the finish line in 3.720 seconds at 338.17 mph to claim his second-straight No. 1 qualifier, his second-straight at Route 66 Raceway, his second of the season and the 68th of his career.
“We’re just trying as hard as we can – we have our heads down trying to beat everybody out here,” Kalitta said. “The low qualifier is good for us, and Shawn won the Mission Foods race. Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) is backing everything we’re doing out here along with Mac Tools, Revchem, Mobil 1 and everyone that helps us get it done. The Mac Tools car was good in that last session, so we’ll see what we have for tomorrow.”
Langdon won the Mission Foods Challenge five times last season, and today’s win is his first of 2026. He defeated Clay Millican in the first round setting up a final-round meeting with Justin Ashley who defeated Kalitta to make the final. The cars left the starting line together, but Langdon made his best run of the weekend to win the race with a 3.770-second effort at 334.73 mph.
“It’s Team Kalitta, man,” Langdon said. “Our leader, Connie Kalitta (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) gives us everything we need to win races. Great job to the Kalitta Air Careers team. We struggled a little bit in qualifying, and we knew we needed a big move there trying to get this win and put ourselves in a better position for tomorrow. The little (championship) points we won today all add up in the end so it’s a big win for us; we’re very happy with that, and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
With 15 Top Fuel cars in Joliet, Kalitta will have a first-round bye on Sunday. Langdon is the No. 9 qualifier and will race No. 8 qualifier Shawn Reed. In Funny Car, J.R. Todd is the No. 6 qualifier and will race No. 11 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in Sunday’s opening round.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post DOUG KALITTA TAKES JOLIET NO. 1 QUALIFIER; SHAWN LANGDON WINS MISSION FOODS CHALLENGE first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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