BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2025) – – Team Kalitta did it again – this time in Brainerd, Minn., and this time in an all-Team Kalitta final round in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta entered today’s Mission Foods final round tied with four Challenge wins each this season. Both will race in tomorrow’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. The race broadcast is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. eastern time on FOX.
Langdon won his fifth Mission Foods Challenge of the season, but Kalitta took his seventh No. 1 qualifier in the season’s 13 races. Langdon defeated Antron Brown, and Kalitta defeated Justin Ashley to set up the all-Team Kalitta final round. Langdon was off the starting line first and won the race despite Kalitta’s 3.677-second pass at 338.34 mph run which was quicker and faster than Langdon’s run.
Langdon also won the Mission Foods Challenge at Phoenix, Pomona, Chicago and Seattle two weeks ago. Kalitta won in Las Vegas, Charlotte, New Hampshire and Norwalk, Ohio.
It was Team Kalitta’s ninth Top Fuel win in the Mission Foods Challenge but the 10th overall. J.R. Todd won the Funny Car challenge at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., in June giving Team Kalitta a Mission Foods Challenge win in 10 of the 12 races at which the Challenge was run so far this season. The Mission Foods Challenge is a rematch of the semifinals and finals from the previous race which awards cash and championship bonus points to the winners.
“The number one spot is a pretty good spot to be in so good job to Doug and his team for that,” Langdon said. “Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) and I were talking earlier, and we still wanted to try to get win the 2Fast2Tasty challenge so that’s pretty cool. It’s a pretty neat program Mission Foods put out there for us so we’re really appreciative of it; we want to put forth our best effort, and that’s what we did right there.
“The Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary car didn’t run exactly what we were trying to run. I was off a little bit on the tree, but the bulb was blanking up there. We were trying to go for the number one spot, really. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it, but we got the win so that’s good. We still have a shot at the regular-season championship going into Indy (U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two weeks). All in all, great year, but we have to get it done tomorrow. It’s a big day tomorrow.”
Kalitta earned his seventh No. 1 qualifier in 13 races this season and the 65th of his career. The Mac Tools Toyota team made excellent runs in three of the four qualifying sessions. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the first session Saturday afternoon when the Mac Tools dragster reached the finish line in 3.655 seconds at 339.36 mph. After taking his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season, Kalitta will look for his second-straight win tomorrow.
“It’s been quite a ride,” Kalitta said. “Alan and Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and all these Mac Tools Toyota guys really have it running well. I’m just trying to do my best (on the starting line), and I’m human; it wasn’t obviously what I was hoping for. I’m real proud of my guys, and we’re going into tomorrow and see if we can get another win.”
Kalitta will race Terry Totten in Sunday’s first-round. Langdon is the No. 8 qualifier and will race reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown in the first round. In Funny Car, Todd qualified No. 5 and will race No. 12 qualifier Paul Lee in Sunday’s first round.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Shawn Langdon Wins Fifth Mission Foods Challenge of Season; Doug Kalitta Claims Seventh No. 1 Qualifier of Season at Brainerd NHRA first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Langdon won his fifth Mission Foods Challenge of the season, but Kalitta took his seventh No. 1 qualifier in the season’s 13 races. Langdon defeated Antron Brown, and Kalitta defeated Justin Ashley to set up the all-Team Kalitta final round. Langdon was off the starting line first and won the race despite Kalitta’s 3.677-second pass at 338.34 mph run which was quicker and faster than Langdon’s run.
Langdon also won the Mission Foods Challenge at Phoenix, Pomona, Chicago and Seattle two weeks ago. Kalitta won in Las Vegas, Charlotte, New Hampshire and Norwalk, Ohio.
It was Team Kalitta’s ninth Top Fuel win in the Mission Foods Challenge but the 10th overall. J.R. Todd won the Funny Car challenge at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., in June giving Team Kalitta a Mission Foods Challenge win in 10 of the 12 races at which the Challenge was run so far this season. The Mission Foods Challenge is a rematch of the semifinals and finals from the previous race which awards cash and championship bonus points to the winners.
“The number one spot is a pretty good spot to be in so good job to Doug and his team for that,” Langdon said. “Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) and I were talking earlier, and we still wanted to try to get win the 2Fast2Tasty challenge so that’s pretty cool. It’s a pretty neat program Mission Foods put out there for us so we’re really appreciative of it; we want to put forth our best effort, and that’s what we did right there.
“The Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary car didn’t run exactly what we were trying to run. I was off a little bit on the tree, but the bulb was blanking up there. We were trying to go for the number one spot, really. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it, but we got the win so that’s good. We still have a shot at the regular-season championship going into Indy (U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two weeks). All in all, great year, but we have to get it done tomorrow. It’s a big day tomorrow.”
Kalitta earned his seventh No. 1 qualifier in 13 races this season and the 65th of his career. The Mac Tools Toyota team made excellent runs in three of the four qualifying sessions. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the first session Saturday afternoon when the Mac Tools dragster reached the finish line in 3.655 seconds at 339.36 mph. After taking his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season, Kalitta will look for his second-straight win tomorrow.
“It’s been quite a ride,” Kalitta said. “Alan and Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and all these Mac Tools Toyota guys really have it running well. I’m just trying to do my best (on the starting line), and I’m human; it wasn’t obviously what I was hoping for. I’m real proud of my guys, and we’re going into tomorrow and see if we can get another win.”
Kalitta will race Terry Totten in Sunday’s first-round. Langdon is the No. 8 qualifier and will race reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown in the first round. In Funny Car, Todd qualified No. 5 and will race No. 12 qualifier Paul Lee in Sunday’s first round.
Photos Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Shawn Langdon Wins Fifth Mission Foods Challenge of Season; Doug Kalitta Claims Seventh No. 1 Qualifier of Season at Brainerd NHRA first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
