Kalitta Motorsports Las Vegas Nationals Pre-Race Report (1 Viewer)

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Pre-Race Team Kalitta Notes​

Event 19: 2021 Las Vegas Nationals
Countdown Race 6 of 7
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nevada
October 29-31, 2021​

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Shawn Langdon Looking to Take Win in Vegas for CMR Construction and Roofing

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This weekend Shawn Langdon will step away from his familiar yellow and red DHL Top Fuel dragster and slide into an 11,000-horsepower race car adorned with the logo and colors of new sponsor CMR Construction and Roofing. The one race appearance caps a wildly successful rookie season for the Kalitta Motorsports sponsor that saw them expand their initial associate sponsorship to include presented by sponsorship of the Kalitta Motorsports Sponsor Summit in Charlotte and primary sponsorship for the Las Vegas Nationals this weekend. The enhanced branding also includes Langdon’s firesuit, team uniforms and special collectible hero cards for this event only.
“I am looking forward to representing CMR Construction and Roofing at the Las Vegas Nationals this weekend and I want to thank Steve and Chandra Soule for all the support,” said Shawn Langdon. “CMR has been very active with all our sponsors and at events since the summer. They love everything about the NHRA and we are enjoying hosting their customers and employees.”
The CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster will make its debut on Friday night during the first qualifying session and will have two more qualifying runs on Saturday before final eliminations get underway on Sunday morning. A sizeable field of race cars will be vying for one of the 16 coveted starting spots. Langdon knows that a strong start on Friday night will set his team up for success all weekend.
“When you only get three qualifying runs the Friday run really sets the tone for the weekend,” said Langdon. “If you get a strong run on Friday you have try a few things on Saturday and be a little more aggressive. If you miss you are a little behind the eight ball the rest of the weekend. I have a lot of confidence in this team, and we are really focused on a strong finish to the season.”
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of the few tracks where Langdon has not made at least one final round appearance. In 2013, the season of his Top Fuel world championship, Langdon was No. 1 qualifier but did not advance beyond the semifinals that year.
This season Langdon opened the year with a runner-up finish to rookie of the year front-runner Josh Hart at the historic Gatornationals. He has recorded three additional semifinal finishes and wowed the NHRA fans with a Connie Kalitta tribute Top Fuel dragster at the U.S. Nationals and the Reading Nationals to open the Countdown.
“It was great to run the Connie Kalitta Bounty Hunter tribute dragster at Indy and to start the Countdown,” said Langdon. “The fans really loved it and I know it put a smile on Connie’s face when we surprised him with the race car in the pits at Indy. Getting to drive a car tuned by Connie is a great honor and we will also me working to get another win together.”
In 2020 Langdon parked his DHL Top Fuel dragster in the winner’s circle at the prestigious U.S. Nationals with the elder Kalitta as his crew chief. This year they narrowly missed another win to start the season. The capabilities of the CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster have never been in doubt throughout the season. This weekend the team will be looking to add more win lights to a Top Ten season.
“We have all the pieces to win this race,” said Langdon. “The key will be getting a good start in qualifying and then just doing our best on Sunday. I am looking forward to showing off this CMR Top Fuel dragster and hopefully having a long race day on Sunday.”

2020 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 5; Lost to Clay Miilican
Last Event Recap (2021 Thunder Valley Nationals): Qual. No. 10; Lost to Justin Ashley
Career Stats: 285 events, 282 starts, 310 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel: 237 events, 234 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 271 round wins, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2021 Season:
Gatornationals: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 6; Beat Doug Foley, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown; Lost to Josh Hart
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 6; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey; Lost to Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 11; Beat Leah Pruett, Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown and Krista Baldwin
Houston: Qual. No. 7; Beat Josh Hart, Justin Ashley; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Epping: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Norwalk: Qual. No. 16; Lost to Steve Torrence
Denver: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Clay Millican
Sonoma: Qual. No. 9; Beat Clay Millican; Lost to Antron Brown
Pomona1: Qual. No. 5; Beat Jim Maroney; Lost to Antron Brown
Topeka: Qual. No. 7; Beat Antron Brown, Billy Torrence; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Antron Brown
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 16; Lost to Brittany Force
Reading: Qual. No. 11; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Billy Torrence
Charlotte2: Qual. No. 14; Lost to Clay Millican
St. Louis: Qual. No. 14; Lost to Steve Torrence
Dallas: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Bristol: Qual. No. 10; Lost to Justin Ashley

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DHL Camry and J.R. Todd Closing in on Funny Car Championship

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With two races remaining in the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team are right in the middle of a tight battle for the championship. Two weeks ago Todd raced to a runner-up finish and on the way defeated three drivers who were trying to distance themselves from the 2018 Funny Car world champion. Todd was able to move from fifth to third in the point standings and sits just 83 points out of first place. With points and a half on the line at the season ending World Finals another strong finish by Todd at the Las Vegas Nationals could have him controlling his own destiny to wrap up his second Funny Car world championship.
“Bristol was a big weekend for this DHL Toyota Funny Car team for sure,” said Todd, who has a win and three runner-up finishes in 2021. “Getting the win would have been great but we definitely closed the gap and I feel like we have a lot of momentum going into Las Vegas. That track has been pretty good to us so we will see what we can do this weekend.”
During his world championship winning season Todd won the Las Vegas Nationals the race right after a runner-up finish and he closed out the season with a win at Pomona. That year the points were a little tighter for the Funny Car driver but this year the gap is still manageable.
“I wouldn’t say we are in the same position as we were in 2018,” said Todd. “This year we have more ground to make up, but I have a lot of confidence heading into Las Vegas. This DHL Toyota team has been strong all season.”
Todd’s history at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has also been exceptional. In addition to his victory at the Las Vegas Nationals in 2018 he has also been victorious twice at the facility’s spring four-wide national event. He has also tallied three runner-up finishes behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster at the fall national event reaching the finals in 2016, 2014 and 2006.
“I don’t know what it is about Las Vegas, but I have had some good luck here,” said Todd. “I am looking forward to seeing what this DHL Toyota Camry can do this weekend. We just want to be able to have a chance for the championship when we roll into Pomona.”

2020 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Ron Capps
Last Event Recap (2021 Thunder Valley Nationals): RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 12; Beat Matt Hagan, John Force, Ron Capps; Lost to Alexis DeJoria
Career Stats: 253 events, 245 starts, 281 round wins, 19 wins, 40 finals, 14 No. 1 qualifiers in Funny Car: 101 events, 101 starts, 10 wins, 20 finals, 133 round wins, 5 No. 1 qualifiers
2021 Season:
Gatornationals: WINNER; Qual. No. 6; Beat Blake Alexander, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Robert Hight
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 9; Beat Cruz Pedregon and Jonnie Lindberg; Lost to Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III
Atlanta: Qual. No. 1; Beat Alexis DeJoria, bye; Lost to John Force
Charlotte1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No.4; Beat Terry Haddock, Jim Campbell, Tim Wilkerson; Beat Mike McIntire, Terry Haddock; Lost to John Force, Beat Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria
Houston: Qual. No. 8; Beat John Force; Lost to Bob Tasca III
Epping: Qual. No. 9; Beat Cruz Pedregon, Lost to John Force
Norwalk: Qual. No. 9; Beat Mike McIntire, Lost to Ron Capps
Denver: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Bob Tasca III
Sonoma: Qual. No. 12; Beat John Force; Lost to Robert Hight
Pomona1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 7; Beat Jeff Diehl, Robert Hight, Jim Campbell; Lost to Ron Capps
Topeka: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 1; Beat Bye, Ron Capps, Blake Alexander; Lost to John Force
Brainerd: Qual. No. 11; Beat Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 5; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Reading: Qual. No. 7; Beat Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Charlotte2: Qual. No. 6; Beat Mike McIntire; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
St. Louis: Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Matt Hagan
Dallas: Qual. No. 8; Beat Tim Wilkerson, Robert Hight; Lost to Matt Hagan
Bristol: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 12; Beat Matt Hagan, John Force, Ron Capps; Lost to Alexis DeJoria

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Third Las Vegas Nationals Win on the Table for Mac Tools Top Fuel and Doug Kalitta

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Doug Kalitta is closing in on the end of his incredible 20th season with primary sponsor Mac Tools as the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway fire up this weekend. The 49-time Top Fuel winner collected two of those wins during this race when he took home the trophy in 2015 and 2004. This weekend Kalitta and the familiar red and white Top Fuel dragster will be looking for a third win at the desert fall classic from Bruton Smith’s impressive facility which hosts two NHRA national events annually.
“We have gotten a couple wins at the fall race and we would definitely like to get that third win at The Strip this weekend,” said Kalitta. “We have been battling all season and have come close a couple times. I know we have what it takes to get four win lights on Sunday we just need to make it happen.”
The perennial championship contender will not earn his first Top Fuel world championship this year but his success on the track for primary sponsor Mac Tools over the past 20 years cannot be diminished by another solid top ten finish. In addition to his two wins at the Las Vegas Nationals he also has a runner-up to his credit from 2007.
This season the veteran driver has raced to two final rounds including a runner-up finish at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals earlier this year. In that race Kalitta outran Clay Millican and Antron Brown and finished just behind Steve Torrence in the final quad. Three races later Kalitta once again earned runner-up honors at the Houston Spring Nationals. The early season success solidified his 24th season with a top ten finish.
“We have had some ups and downs this season for sure, but we have always kept our heads up and been in the fight,” said Kalitta. “This Mac Tools team is looking forward to getting to the track in Las Vegas and finishing this season strong.”

2020 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 3, Lost to Justin Ashley
Last Event Recap (2021 Thunder Valley Nationals): Qual. No. 11; Lost to Billy Torrence
Career Stats: 542 events, 535 starts, 723 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
2021 Season:
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 4; Beat Arthur Allen; Lost to Justin Ashley
Las Vegas1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 3; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey, Beat Shawn Langdon and Leah Pruett; Lost to Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Antron Brown
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 12; Beat Josh Hart, Billy Torrence, Kyle Wurtzel; Lost to Brittany Force, Josh Hart
Houston: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 9; Beat Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon; Lost to Steve Torrence
Epping: Qual. No. 5; Beat Shawn Langdon, Lost to Mike Salinas
Norwalk: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown
Denver: Qual. No. 4; Lost to Leah Pruett
Sonoma: Qual. No. 8; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Pomona1: Qual. No. 6; Lost to Clay Millican
Topeka: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 3; Beat Krista Baldwin; Lost to Billy Torrence
Reading: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Justin Ashley
Charlotte2: Qual. No. 12; Lost to Steve Torrence
St. Louis: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Tripp Tatum
Dallas: Qual. No. 10; Beat Antron Brown; Lost to Steve Torrence
Bristol: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Billy Torrence

About Kalitta Motorsports Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Camping World Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 60 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with seven world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959. Kalitta Motorsports fields three full-time entries in the NHRA Camping World nitro classes. Connie Kalitta’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster while 2013 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon drives the DHL/Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster. In Funny Car, 2018 NHRA Funny Car world champion J.R. Todd is the driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Connie Kalitta serves as head tuner for all Kalitta Motorsports entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, Kurt Elliott on the DHL Top Fuel dragster and Rob Flynn with Ronnie Thompson lead the efforts on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.