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Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, CA
July 25, 2021
Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Race to Quarterfinals at Sonoma Nationals
The winningest driver in Sonoma Raceway history was looking to add one more victory to his win total during the NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend. Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster team used the two days of qualifying to gather data and position their team as the No. 8 qualifier. In the first round of racing Kalitta faced veteran Mike Salinas, who was the No. 5 qualifier.
The Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by the perennial championship contender took a starting line advantage and never trailed in the drag race. Kalitta made his quickest run of the weekend a 3.731 second run at 323.19 mph. The work the Mac Tools team invested over the weekend paid off with a significant first round victory.
The second round set up a race against point leader and No. 2 qualifier Steve Torrence. This was the second time the championship combatants have met in 2021. Torrence took the win at the Springnationals in the final round four races ago. Kalitta took a slight starting line advantage but as the race cars flew down the track Torrence took the lead and never relinquished it.
“We had a good run first round. We really made two good solid runs today,” said Kalitta. “We are finally to a point now where we can actually race this Mac Tools dragster. There were a few races we were out there in survival mode and I think we have that behind us now. We can start turning the screws up on this race car and see what we can do. After today we have a lot more confidence. Everything in the motor looked good after both runs. We will start focusing on Pomona and the Winternationals next weekend.”
With one more race on tap during the Western Swing Kalitta is in the No. 8 spot in points and just over one round out of sixth place. The Mac Tools team has won the Winternationals an unprecedented three years in a row and will be looking to extend that streak in a few days.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 8 (3.800 sec., 319.45 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Doug Kalitta 8 .093 3.731 323.19 (W)
Mike Salinas 5 .110 4.100 217.49
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Doug Kalitta 8 .063 3.811 316.97
Steve Torrence 2 .067 3.730 327.35 (W)
Quarterfinals Finish Caps Shawn Langdon Day at Sonoma Raceway
Today during the NHRA Sonoma Nationals Shawn Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster were looking for their second Top Fuel victory at the multi-use facility in northern California. After two days of qualifying Langdon rolled into race day as the No. 9 qualifier in a twelve race car field. Langdon’s quickest run prior to eliminations was a 3.809 second, 318.24 mph pass.
In the opening session the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel world champion and pilot of the DHL Top Fuel dragster was giving up lane choice to the No. 4 qualifier Clay Millican. The pair were the first race cars to take to the track today and Langdon jumped out to a lead with a reaction time advantage of .050 to .080. As the race cars accelerated down track Millican moved around Langdon and approached the finish line. Just before the stripe Millican lost power and Langdon was able to chase him down for the win. The margin of victory was approximately 13 inches at over 320 mph. It was Langdon and the DHL team’s quickest run of the weekend.
In the quarterfinal round Langdon drew Antron Brown. It was another close race for the DHL team with Langdon’s race car losing traction just past half-track and Brown driving away from Langdon for the win.
“We got a nice win in the first round with a solid run,” said Langdon. “The DHL team did everything we needed to for that win. The guys are giving me a good race car we just need to string a couple rounds together on race day. I will be ready to get to Pomona and try and end the swing on a high note.”
The DHL team will head to the final race of the historic Western Swing next weekend in Pomona, California sitting in the No. 4 spot in the NHRA Camping World Top Fuel standings with four races remaining in the NHRA regular season.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 9 (3.809 sec., 318.24 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Shawn Langdon 9 .050 3.789 321.35 (W)
Clay Millican 4 .080 3.761 281.13
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Shawn Langdon 9 .059 4.308 192.44
Antron Brown 3 .046 3.815 313.88 (W)
J.R. Todd and DHL Funny Car Team Race to Quarterfinals in Sonoma
J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team battled through two days of qualifying at Sonoma Raceway. The 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion and 2017 NHRA Sonoma Nationals winner was looking to pick up his second Funny Car win and fourth nitro win overall at the beautiful track located in the heart of northern California wine country. Going into race day Todd was the No. 12 qualifier and faced the winningest Funny Car driver in history, John Force, the No. 5 qualifier.
This was the fourth meeting between the two Funny Car champion drivers. Todd defeated Force in the in their only other first round meeting earlier this season in Houston. Today it was again Todd getting the win in dramatic fashion. He took a slim starting line advantage and the drivers were side by side racing to the finish line stripe. Force began dropping cylinders and moving towards the wall while Todd kept his Camry Funny Car welded to the middle of the groove. The DHL Funny Car made its quickest run of the weekend and took the round win when Force clipped the wall before the finish line.
The victory moved Todd and the DHL Funny Car to the quarterfinals against Force’s teammate Robert Hight. For the eighth time in nine races Todd advanced out of the first round which is a category best record. Once again Todd took a slight starting line advantage with a quicker reaction time but in this race it was Hight who made a smooth run while Todd’s race car slowed from his strong first round elapsed time.
“We got a big win the first round and I thought we were set up for a long day,” said Todd. “We just need a little more consistency and we will be in a great position. We will be back in a few days racing in Pomona and I know there are things this DHL team learned this weekend that will help us at the Winternationals.”
The DHL Toyota Camry team and J.R. Todd are currently No. 6 in the NHRA Camping World point standings.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 12 (4.055 sec., 319.37 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
J.R. Todd 12 .076 4.032 321.27 (W)
John Force 5 .077 4.137 290.57
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
J.R. Todd 12 .072 4.060 296.70
Robert Hight 4 .074 3.938 329.95 (W)
Unofficial NHRA Camping World Championship Standings:
Top Fuel
| 1 | Steve Torrence | 978 |
| 2 | Antron Brown | 629 |
| 3 | Brittany Force | 564 |
| 4 | Shawn Langdon | 460 |
| 5 | Leah Pruett | 457 |
| 6 | Billy Torrence | 448 |
| 7 | Mike Salinas | 432 |
| 8 | Doug Kalitta | 420 |
| 9 | Justin Ashley | 370 |
| 10 | Clay Millican | 366 |
| 1 | Bob Tasca III | 676 |
| 2 | Matt Hagan | 655 |
| 3 | Robert Hight | 636 |
| 4 | John Force | 624 |
| 5 | Ron Capps | 613 |
| 6 | J.R. Todd | 584 |
| 7 | Alexis DeJoria | 577 |
| 8 | Tim Wilkerson | 526 |
| 9 | Cruz Pedregon | 481 |
| 10 | Terry Haddock | 306 |
