BIR 2026

[mick]

on FB this morning. from last weekend. power cruise weekend.
be there soon. can't wait.

 

[J. S.]

Maybe I missed reading about this elsewhere, but I don't see the Jim Dunn Funny Car on the entry list for Brainerd. Pretty rare in the past for them to miss a race. Looks like maybe they are starting to cut back? Maybe the loss of funding from the driver is significant. I'm sure Arend as a fill-in driver for Losenko is only driving for expenses and is not a paid gig either way.

 

[Chili]

Maybe I missed reading about this elsewhere, but I don't see the Jim Dunn Funny Car on the entry list for Brainerd. Pretty rare in the past for them to miss a race. Looks like maybe they are starting to cut back? Maybe the loss of funding from the driver is significant. I'm sure Arend as a fill-in driver for Losenko is only driving for expenses and is not a paid gig either way.

They missed a racer earlier this year so they have to be in the top 10 to be countdown eligible. Since that is off the table, I’m guessing they didn’t have a primary sponsor for this race so no reason to make the trek up to north. After Losenko’s Pomona incidents and NHRA stepping in to get him out of the seat, the Dunn team was more or less left out of the countdown this year.

 

[Rich D]

They missed a racer earlier this year so they have to be in the top 10 to be countdown eligible. Since that is off the table, I’m guessing they didn’t have a primary sponsor for this race so no reason to make the trek up to north. After Losenko’s Pomona incidents and NHRA stepping in to get him out of the seat, the Dunn team was more or less left out of the countdown this year.

I hadn't heard about NHRA being involved in the decision to keep Losenko out of the seat. The fact that he was out of the seat right after a couple of lane swaps suggested it may not be an injury but I hadn't heard that.

 

[Rasn1320]

They missed a racer earlier this year so they have to be in the top 10 to be countdown eligible. Since that is off the table, I’m guessing they didn’t have a primary sponsor for this race so no reason to make the trek up to north. After Losenko’s Pomona incidents and NHRA stepping in to get him out of the seat, the Dunn team was more or less left out of the countdown this year.

I Heard an arm injury,guess that was bs like robert hights deal lol. Prob cant get a driver to pay his way bc they either dont qualify or go out 1st rd,thats gotta get old,esp for the crew guys

 

[Chili]

I Heard an arm injury,guess that was bs like robert hights deal lol. Prob cant get a driver to pay his way bc they either dont qualify or go out 1st rd,thats gotta get old,esp for the crew guys

Unfortunately the Dunn’s don’t have the funding to run with the big dogs. I would guess they are doing it on about a third of what the big teams are spending. If they could get a driver to bring 2 million to the seat, their performance would step up dramatically. It’s great that they are still racing and going to most events. I would guess they get fairly raw crew members, train them up, only to lose them to a team with better funding. That happened to Wilkerson for years when he had his own team.

 

[mick]

probably didn't want to risk driver injury having to jump over fence again to get back to hauler
....... i don't think i can remember a year dunn racing wasn't @ bir

 

[HoodooVoodooAngus]

I Heard an arm injury,guess that was bs like robert hights deal lol. Prob cant get a driver to pay his way bc they either dont qualify or go out 1st rd,thats gotta get old,esp for the crew guys

Severe injury that required surgery with a long term healing time.

 

[n/a]

Jake drove for Del last year a couple times, including an IHRA race. Del built a car that followed the new TA/FC blown nitro rules and that's what Jake had been driving. Not sure what the plan was for this weekend.

Del also had his TF car in at Mckinney's getting some updates done, so who knows, maybe that will be making an appearance soon.

Del was testing the top fuel car the Monday after at Norwalk.
No idea who wad driving.

 

[mick]

outlaw beer wrap on head/hyde FC for brainerd. they stuck that thing in the winner's circle 2 years ago w/blake driving.

 

[65 Goatboy]

outlaw beer wrap on head/hyde FC for brainerd. they stuck that thing in the winner's circle 2 years ago w/blake driving.

Jim's been on his game lately, it's about time Spencer got his first win. After the baby comes Courtney might make him stop driving!

 

[65 Goatboy]

I Heard an arm injury,guess that was bs like robert hights deal lol. Prob cant get a driver to pay his way bc they either dont qualify or go out 1st rd,thats gotta get old,esp for the crew guys

Severe injury that required surgery with a long term healing time.

And exactly what is funny about that?

 

[Billy]

Mitch Kalitta Joins Randy Meyer Racing for Top Alcohol Dragster Debut | Drag Illustrated

Randy Meyer Racing is honored to officially announce that Mitch Kalitta, son of two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, will make his Top Alcohol Dragster debut with the championship-winning team, beginning at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, before continuing his...

dragillustrated.com

 

[Nunz]

That's exciting, great to see the next generation stepping up.

 

[65 Goatboy]

Mitch Kalitta Joins Randy Meyer Racing for Top Alcohol Dragster Debut | Drag Illustrated

Randy Meyer Racing is honored to officially announce that Mitch Kalitta, son of two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, will make his Top Alcohol Dragster debut with the championship-winning team, beginning at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, before continuing his...

dragillustrated.com

Mitch has quite a resume already. Looks like we might have the heir apparent for the Top Fueler, wonder how long Doug wants to drive?

 

[J. S.]

Mitch has quite a resume already. Looks like we might have the heir apparent for the Top Fueler, wonder how long Doug wants to drive?

A better question might be: After Connie dies, are there still going to be Kalittas in drag racing? Has Connie set up an endowment to run these 3 fuel teams for years to come? Is Doug going to step out of the seat, but take over running the drag racing operation? I guess we'll find out soon.

 

[Rasn1320]

A better question might be: After Connie dies, are there still going to be Kalittas in drag racing? Has Connie set up an endowment to run these 3 fuel teams for years to come? Is Doug going to step out of the seat, but take over running the drag racing operation? I guess we'll find out soon.

Very good question,i always though doug would take over and his son would take his seat

 

[65 Goatboy]

A better question might be: After Connie dies, are there still going to be Kalittas in drag racing? Has Connie set up an endowment to run these 3 fuel teams for years to come? Is Doug going to step out of the seat, but take over running the drag racing operation? I guess we'll find out soon.

Doug will also have a huge successful airline to run in addition to his own. Are Doug and Scott Connie's only two children?

 

[Just Paul]

Are Doug and Scott Connie's only two children?

Doug is Connie’s nephew.

 

[Under_Pressure]

Doug will also have a huge successful airline to run in addition to his own. Are Doug and Scott Connie's only two children?

Doug is Connie's nephew. I'm not sure if Connie had other children besides Scott? Because that is the real question- where do all of Connie's other business interests end up? Scott had children, so I imagine they will be in the picture. Doug might get the race team but might not have the benefit of operating under the wing (so to speak) of the Kalitta Air behemoth. Though obviously he's got a pretty significant business of his own.