Top Fuel Runner Up: Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay: 8:30-11:30 p.m. eastern time Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 on FS1
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 3 qualifier at the In ‘n Out NHRA Finals. After rain forced cancelation of both Friday qualifying sessions, the Mac Tools Toyota team made two excellent qualifying runs. Kalitta was second after his first pass Saturday afternoon. In his second and final qualifying attempt, the 2023 Top Fuel champion made a 3.650-second pass at 335.98 mph to claim the No. 3 starting position.
In that final qualifying attempt, Kalitta reached 300.53 mph at the eighth mile becoming just the second driver in NHRA history to reach this milestone. Mike Salinas was the first to accomplish the feat last season; Kalitta earned the $13,000 Phillips Connect 300 at the 1/8 Bonus.
Eliminations: Kalitta defeated Ida Zetterstrom, Jasmine Salinas and Tony Stewart on his way to the final round. When Antron Brown defeated Brittany Force in the other semifinal, Kalitta was eliminated from championship contention. In the final round, Kalitta raced Brown in a battle of the outgoing champion vs. the incoming champion. The Mac Tools Toyota team made an excellent run, but it wasn’t enough. Brown’s 3.687-second pass beat Kalitta’s 3.710-second effort. The final round was Kalitta’s 15th at In ‘n Out Burger Pomina Drag Strip.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta finished the season in second place in the NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel point standings falling just short of successfully defending his 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Title. It was Kalitta’s seventh-career runner-up finish in the season standings.
Kalitta on Pomona Qualifying and the Phillips Connect 300 at the 1/8 Mile Club: “Mike Salinas led the charge being the first guy, but we’re pretty proud to be the second. The Mac Tools car was really running – I tell you it was a cool ride, and it was pretty exciting for me. Alan, Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and the whole Mac Tools Toyota team worked super hard on this car – everything about what we do is a team effort so I’m real proud of my guys. I didn’t realize there was some money behind the deal but really appreciate Phillips Connect for putting the bonus out there.”
Kalitta on Pomona Raceday: “It all came down to the wire, which is all you can hope for – having a shot at it at the last race of the year. We struggled a little bit throughout the countdown, so we saved it pretty well, I thought. Antron had a really good day; his car’s running well, and they pulled it off so hats off to those guys. This Mac Tools Toyota team will kind of regroup here and see what see what we have. Making it to the final at these last two races in the countdown was really good – it’s all about those last six races. It’s a crazy format, but it’s what we do. Winning the three races earlier this year was good, but everybody’s gelling really well on this team so I hope everybody’s gonna stick around and stay with it. I’m really proud of all my guys.”
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Finals Broadcast Replay: 8:30-11:30 p.m. eastern time Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 on FS1
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 3 qualifier at the In ‘n Out NHRA Finals. After rain forced cancelation of both Friday qualifying sessions, the Mac Tools Toyota team made two excellent qualifying runs. Kalitta was second after his first pass Saturday afternoon. In his second and final qualifying attempt, the 2023 Top Fuel champion made a 3.650-second pass at 335.98 mph to claim the No. 3 starting position.
In that final qualifying attempt, Kalitta reached 300.53 mph at the eighth mile becoming just the second driver in NHRA history to reach this milestone. Mike Salinas was the first to accomplish the feat last season; Kalitta earned the $13,000 Phillips Connect 300 at the 1/8 Bonus.
Eliminations: Kalitta defeated Ida Zetterstrom, Jasmine Salinas and Tony Stewart on his way to the final round. When Antron Brown defeated Brittany Force in the other semifinal, Kalitta was eliminated from championship contention. In the final round, Kalitta raced Brown in a battle of the outgoing champion vs. the incoming champion. The Mac Tools Toyota team made an excellent run, but it wasn’t enough. Brown’s 3.687-second pass beat Kalitta’s 3.710-second effort. The final round was Kalitta’s 15th at In ‘n Out Burger Pomina Drag Strip.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta finished the season in second place in the NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel point standings falling just short of successfully defending his 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Title. It was Kalitta’s seventh-career runner-up finish in the season standings.
Kalitta on Pomona Qualifying and the Phillips Connect 300 at the 1/8 Mile Club: “Mike Salinas led the charge being the first guy, but we’re pretty proud to be the second. The Mac Tools car was really running – I tell you it was a cool ride, and it was pretty exciting for me. Alan, Mac (Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and the whole Mac Tools Toyota team worked super hard on this car – everything about what we do is a team effort so I’m real proud of my guys. I didn’t realize there was some money behind the deal but really appreciate Phillips Connect for putting the bonus out there.”
Kalitta on Pomona Raceday: “It all came down to the wire, which is all you can hope for – having a shot at it at the last race of the year. We struggled a little bit throughout the countdown, so we saved it pretty well, I thought. Antron had a really good day; his car’s running well, and they pulled it off so hats off to those guys. This Mac Tools Toyota team will kind of regroup here and see what see what we have. Making it to the final at these last two races in the countdown was really good – it’s all about those last six races. It’s a crazy format, but it’s what we do. Winning the three races earlier this year was good, but everybody’s gelling really well on this team so I hope everybody’s gonna stick around and stay with it. I’m really proud of all my guys.”
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