TOP FUEL WINNER: Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster​


Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 on FS1

Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No.5 qualifier at the Mopar NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. His best qualifying attempt came in the Friday-night session when he reached the finish line in 3.695 seconds at 332.59 mph.

Eliminations: Kalitta defeated Will Smith, Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon and Leah Pruett on the way to his fifth win of the season and the 64th of his career. It is the 15th Kalitta Motorsports win in the season’s 19 races to date (Langdon 8, Kalitta 5 and Todd 2), and Team Kalitta now has a win in each of the last nine NHRA national events. Kalitta’s final round 3.658-second run at 338.60 mph was the quickest run of the weekend among all competitors. Kalitta made four runs, all in the 3.60s and all within .024 seconds.

Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Las Vegas in second place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails his teammate, Shawn Langdon, by 107 points and leads third-place Antron Brown by 129 points with one race remaining in the season.

Kalitta on Las Vegas:

“You never can tell what could happen at that last race; we’ve been there before. We’re definitely still behind those guys, and Shawn’s obviously a great driver; the Kalitta Air guys are doing a hell of a job, but so are my Mac Tools guys. Alan Johnson and Mac Savage (Crew Chiefs Alan Johnson and Mac Savage) – all my guys – everybody’s real hungry. Pomona’s been good to me over the years so we’ll see what happens.

“It was definitely a sigh of relief to see that win light come on against Shawn (in the semifinals), to finally to get by those guys. That was what I was hoping for, to get a shot at Shawn in the third round and hopefully beat him, and so it worked out well. I have to admit, (the championship) feels like a long shot, but anything can happen with points and a half at Pomona. Pomona is really one of my favorite places to race.

“I have to hand it to my guys; they really had my car on a rail today with 60s all day and that 65 in the final. They definitely had her hopped up, and the track is incredible out here even with these (cool) conditions. I guess that’s the kind of conditions that my car likes, obviously, Alan and Mac, what can I say about them? They’re just really incredible with tuning these things. It’s a great privilege, I must admit, to be in the spot I am driving this thing for those guys, and Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta), obviously. He’s always got my back, and I appreciate everything he does for Shawn, J.R. and me. We’ve got a great three-car effort going here, and it’s just a real fortunate day to win here.

Doug Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports

Next Race: Team Kalitta will complete the 2026 season Nov. 13-15 at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. For additional information, please visit www.nhra.com. For additional information on Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.

The post Doug Kalitta Wins NHRA Las Vegas, Reduces Points Lead first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.

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