CHANDLER, Ariz., (Feb. 24, 2013) - Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, went into Sunday’s eliminations of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., just a few miles from the Phoenix city limits, with high hopes of taking home his first “Wally” of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series after qualifying in the No. 1 (3.733 seconds, 329.02 mph) position.
Kalitta’s hopes were unfortunately dashed in the opening round of eliminations. He faced off against No. 16 qualifier Spencer Massey in the opener and the two drivers gave the fans at Firebird a spectacular side-by-side blast to the 1,000-ft finish line. A very slight starting line advantage (.026 seconds) was garnered by Massey and that allowed him to get the upset win over Kalitta in a holeshot, 3.774 sec. 326.00 mph to 3.756 sec. 329.67 mph.
“It’s always tough to lose, but it’s certainly no fun to lose one like that,” Kalitta, owner and president of Kalitta Charters airline service, said. “Our Mac Tools dragster team performed almost flawlessly throughout the entire weekend, and I feel so bad about letting them down. But, we win as a team and we lose as a team so I know they’re not upset with me.
“We have a car that every team out there is now scared to face and that’s a great feeling. We’ll put our Mac Tools hard to work and get everything tuned up for Gainesville (Fla., next event) in a few weeks.”
Kalitta’s No. 1 qualifying effort in Phoenix was the 32nd start from the top spot in his career and his first of the season. His amazing 3.733-second, 329.02-mph blast set track records at Firebird for both elapsed time and speed and also resets his personal best ever for elapsed time.
Kalitta leaves Phoenix in the No. 7th position in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points, only 21 points away from the top five.
Kalitta has amassed 32 NHRA Top Fuel title trophies in 65 final-round appearances. He has finished in the top ten in Mello Yello championship points in every season of his 16-year straight-line career. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion.
Sunday was also a big day for Kalitta Motorsports, as team patriarch, drag racing legend, and Doug’s Uncle Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta celebrated his 75th birthday.
From: Todd Myers
More...
Kalitta’s hopes were unfortunately dashed in the opening round of eliminations. He faced off against No. 16 qualifier Spencer Massey in the opener and the two drivers gave the fans at Firebird a spectacular side-by-side blast to the 1,000-ft finish line. A very slight starting line advantage (.026 seconds) was garnered by Massey and that allowed him to get the upset win over Kalitta in a holeshot, 3.774 sec. 326.00 mph to 3.756 sec. 329.67 mph.
“It’s always tough to lose, but it’s certainly no fun to lose one like that,” Kalitta, owner and president of Kalitta Charters airline service, said. “Our Mac Tools dragster team performed almost flawlessly throughout the entire weekend, and I feel so bad about letting them down. But, we win as a team and we lose as a team so I know they’re not upset with me.
“We have a car that every team out there is now scared to face and that’s a great feeling. We’ll put our Mac Tools hard to work and get everything tuned up for Gainesville (Fla., next event) in a few weeks.”
Kalitta’s No. 1 qualifying effort in Phoenix was the 32nd start from the top spot in his career and his first of the season. His amazing 3.733-second, 329.02-mph blast set track records at Firebird for both elapsed time and speed and also resets his personal best ever for elapsed time.
Kalitta leaves Phoenix in the No. 7th position in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points, only 21 points away from the top five.
Kalitta has amassed 32 NHRA Top Fuel title trophies in 65 final-round appearances. He has finished in the top ten in Mello Yello championship points in every season of his 16-year straight-line career. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion.
Sunday was also a big day for Kalitta Motorsports, as team patriarch, drag racing legend, and Doug’s Uncle Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta celebrated his 75th birthday.
From: Todd Myers
More...
