Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
2025 NHRA Southern Nationals Recap: Inaugural Event.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 630 events, 60 wins, 68 runners-up, 850 round wins, 66 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 1
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“That fast run in the final last weekend was really exciting. Driving the car, you can tell that the car’s really running fast and you’re hoping for the best. Shawn’s car too, with Brian (Langdon Crew Chief Brian Husen) tuning that car, it’s the same thing. So really with Alan (Kalitta Crew Chief Alan Johnson) and Brian working together, it just kind of doubles the opportunities and chances for our team because they work together closely and make similar runs.
“One of the main reasons our three cars are having good seasons is Chad Head (Kalitta Motorsports General Manager) – he runs our effort. He’s working with Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) closely. He works relentlessly and passionately. He has a ton of experience. He’s driven the car, and he’s definitely watching out for what we’re doing and trying to make sure that, anything that we think we need, he’s on top of trying to make it happen. Connie’s 88 now, and he’s still coming to these races and still loving what we’re doing. I have to admit, we all work really hard at out here because we’re all just trying to make him proud. That’s a little extra motivation for all of us.
“It’s been a while since I went to a racetrack for the first time. I’m optimistic, obviously, that the NHRA has this place (South Georgia Motorsports Park) ready for us, and I’m sure they do because it’s a big deal to add a new place for our series. Atlanta was a great market – I always enjoyed going to Commerce, Ga. It was one of those tracks that had been there forever; I’m sure this place will be good, and I’m looking forward to going.
“It’s a new place so you’re just going to look around to see how the staging lanes are as far as getting the car up to the starting line – just simple stuff. Then down at the other end – I have no idea about that yet so I’ll just want to just see how long the shutdown area is. I’ll just look things over. A lot of eyes are on this thing, and a lot of good people are working really hard to make it a great event. We’re looking forward to it.”
Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Doug Kalitta’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
The post Points Leader Doug Kalitta Wants Back-to-Back Wins first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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2025 NHRA Southern Nationals Recap: Inaugural Event.
Doug Kalitta Career Stats: 630 events, 60 wins, 68 runners-up, 850 round wins, 66 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 1
Pre-Race Notes:
- Doug Kalitta enters the NHRA Southern Nationals atop the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, is currently second in points making Team Kalitta one-two in points following the season’s fourth race.
- Kalitta won last weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals near Charlotte clipping Langdon by .0146 seconds for the win. It was the 60th win of his career and his first win of the season. Kalitta remains fourth all-time in Top Fuel wins, and he is now just two wins behind third-place Larry Dixon.
- Kalitta won the race with the fastest run of his career (3.692-second run at 342.98 mph), the third-fastest run in NHRA history and the fastest run in the history of zMAX Dragway.
- The two-time and defending NHRA Top Fuel champion has a win, a runner-up and two semifinals in the season’s first four races.
- When Kalitta advanced to the final quad last weekend, he earned a spot in this week’s Mission Foods Challenge. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the final quad last weekend will re-run the semifinals and final in separate pairs earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
- 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:
“That fast run in the final last weekend was really exciting. Driving the car, you can tell that the car’s really running fast and you’re hoping for the best. Shawn’s car too, with Brian (Langdon Crew Chief Brian Husen) tuning that car, it’s the same thing. So really with Alan (Kalitta Crew Chief Alan Johnson) and Brian working together, it just kind of doubles the opportunities and chances for our team because they work together closely and make similar runs.
“One of the main reasons our three cars are having good seasons is Chad Head (Kalitta Motorsports General Manager) – he runs our effort. He’s working with Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) closely. He works relentlessly and passionately. He has a ton of experience. He’s driven the car, and he’s definitely watching out for what we’re doing and trying to make sure that, anything that we think we need, he’s on top of trying to make it happen. Connie’s 88 now, and he’s still coming to these races and still loving what we’re doing. I have to admit, we all work really hard at out here because we’re all just trying to make him proud. That’s a little extra motivation for all of us.
“It’s been a while since I went to a racetrack for the first time. I’m optimistic, obviously, that the NHRA has this place (South Georgia Motorsports Park) ready for us, and I’m sure they do because it’s a big deal to add a new place for our series. Atlanta was a great market – I always enjoyed going to Commerce, Ga. It was one of those tracks that had been there forever; I’m sure this place will be good, and I’m looking forward to going.
“It’s a new place so you’re just going to look around to see how the staging lanes are as far as getting the car up to the starting line – just simple stuff. Then down at the other end – I have no idea about that yet so I’ll just want to just see how long the shutdown area is. I’ll just look things over. A lot of eyes are on this thing, and a lot of good people are working really hard to make it a great event. We’re looking forward to it.”
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: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 1-2 p.m. Sunday, May 3 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, May 3 on FS1
The post Points Leader Doug Kalitta Wants Back-to-Back Wins first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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