TOP FUEL WINNER: Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 9 a.m.-Noon Tuesday, Aug. 25 on FS2
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Kalitta made his best run of the weekend during the third round of qualifying early Saturday afternoon when the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster reached the finish line in 3.673 seconds at 332.30 mph. It was Kalitta’s fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 70th of his career. Kalitta made the quickest run in each of the four qualifying sessions and earned 12 qualifying bonus points moving him past his teammate, Shawn Langdon, into the points lead entering race day.
During the Saturday qualifying sessions, Kalitta captured his fifth Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season. He defeated Antron Brown and Josh Hart on his way to the win. Although the Mission Foods Challenge will be run one more time in Indianapolis, Kalitta clinched his second-straight Top Fuel season title in the Saturday race.
Eliminations: Kalitta defeated Cameron Ferre, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Maddie Gordon to win his third-consecutive race and his fourth of the season. With the win, Kalitta:
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Brainerd in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings; it is the first time he’s led the standings since the second race of the season. He leads his teammate, Shawn Langdon, by 67 points with one race remaining in the regular season.
Kalitta on Brainerd: “It’s just tough; it’s very competitive and we’ll take this (trophy) back to Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta). He’s definitely happy. We got him hooked up with NHRA.tv today so he could watch the race. The car left and it just stayed hooked up all the way. For Alan and Mac (Crew Chiefs Alan Johnson and Mac Savage) and my whole Mac Tools team, I’m just really, really proud of the effort. Thanks to Gerber, PJH, SealMaster and SoundGear for making all of this happen.
“It was a great day – Maddie’s doing a great job and obviously, we’re real happy to get by them in the final; they’re gonna be real tough, like everybody else, to the end of the season. The place was packed with a lot of great fans here, and this place has been great for my family. What can I say about Alan Johnson, Mac Savage and all my guys on this team? They just keep giving me the great car, and it’s going down the track every time so hats off to them for sure.
“We’re all hungry to race for that regular-season championship; we appreciate everything, Mission and NHRA do for what we’re doing out here. It (racing for the regular season title) will be a big deal. It’s points and a half in Indy so we’re just definitely going to have to go there and plan on trying to win that thing
“This Mac Tools car is probably the best I’ve ever had; everybody’s doing their job, and everybody’s gelling. Alan is a master with all this stuff and what he does making these parts and tuning this thing; it’s just incredible to watch him do his thing. I just appreciate everybody that’s making it happen.”
Doug Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
Next Race: Team Kalitta will be back in action Sept. 4-7, 2026, at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. For additional information, please visit www.nhra.com. For additional information on Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.
The post Doug Kalitta Wins Third-Straight Race, Takes Points Lead at NHRA Brainerd Nationals; first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 9 a.m.-Noon Tuesday, Aug. 25 on FS2
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Kalitta made his best run of the weekend during the third round of qualifying early Saturday afternoon when the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster reached the finish line in 3.673 seconds at 332.30 mph. It was Kalitta’s fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 70th of his career. Kalitta made the quickest run in each of the four qualifying sessions and earned 12 qualifying bonus points moving him past his teammate, Shawn Langdon, into the points lead entering race day.
During the Saturday qualifying sessions, Kalitta captured his fifth Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season. He defeated Antron Brown and Josh Hart on his way to the win. Although the Mission Foods Challenge will be run one more time in Indianapolis, Kalitta clinched his second-straight Top Fuel season title in the Saturday race.
Eliminations: Kalitta defeated Cameron Ferre, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Maddie Gordon to win his third-consecutive race and his fourth of the season. With the win, Kalitta:
- Has four wins in six-career Brainerd final rounds, second-most all time.
- With three-straight wins, moves from 150 points out of first place entering Sonoma, Calif., two races ago, to leading by 67 points.
- Moves to third all-time in Top Fuel wins and 11th all-time in Mission Foods Drag racing wins.
- Wins 12-consecutive rounds of racing.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Brainerd in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings; it is the first time he’s led the standings since the second race of the season. He leads his teammate, Shawn Langdon, by 67 points with one race remaining in the regular season.
Kalitta on Brainerd: “It’s just tough; it’s very competitive and we’ll take this (trophy) back to Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta). He’s definitely happy. We got him hooked up with NHRA.tv today so he could watch the race. The car left and it just stayed hooked up all the way. For Alan and Mac (Crew Chiefs Alan Johnson and Mac Savage) and my whole Mac Tools team, I’m just really, really proud of the effort. Thanks to Gerber, PJH, SealMaster and SoundGear for making all of this happen.
“It was a great day – Maddie’s doing a great job and obviously, we’re real happy to get by them in the final; they’re gonna be real tough, like everybody else, to the end of the season. The place was packed with a lot of great fans here, and this place has been great for my family. What can I say about Alan Johnson, Mac Savage and all my guys on this team? They just keep giving me the great car, and it’s going down the track every time so hats off to them for sure.
“We’re all hungry to race for that regular-season championship; we appreciate everything, Mission and NHRA do for what we’re doing out here. It (racing for the regular season title) will be a big deal. It’s points and a half in Indy so we’re just definitely going to have to go there and plan on trying to win that thing
“This Mac Tools car is probably the best I’ve ever had; everybody’s doing their job, and everybody’s gelling. Alan is a master with all this stuff and what he does making these parts and tuning this thing; it’s just incredible to watch him do his thing. I just appreciate everybody that’s making it happen.”
Doug Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
Next Race: Team Kalitta will be back in action Sept. 4-7, 2026, at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. For additional information, please visit www.nhra.com. For additional information on Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.
The post Doug Kalitta Wins Third-Straight Race, Takes Points Lead at NHRA Brainerd Nationals; first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
