GAINESVILLE, Fla., (March 17, 2013) – Doug Kalitta, driver of the “Big Red” Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, posted a strong semi-final finish Sunday during eliminations of the prestigious NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla.
Kalitta, a 48-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., qualified the 10,000-horsepower Mac Tools machine in the No. 1 qualifying spot (3.779 seconds, 326.32 mph) for the second consecutive event (Phoenix). He defeated Leah Pruett and Brandon Bernstein on his way to his 58th semi-final showing in his 16-year straight line racing career.
In the semis, Kalitta matched up against Clay Millican. For the first time in eliminations, the Mac Tools dragster struggled to maintain valuable traction as it went into tire smoke just before the half-track marker, and that allowed Millican to advance, 4.125 sec., 243.33 mph to 3.818 sec., 323.27 mph.
“It was good to go some rounds today,” Kalitta said. “Our Mac Tools ride has been putting up some huge numbers so far this season, but we really haven’t been able to get very far on Sunday until today. It was good to kind of get that monkey off our back.”
Kalitta moves up to the No. 4 position in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points (187).
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 great career. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion.
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Kalitta, a 48-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., qualified the 10,000-horsepower Mac Tools machine in the No. 1 qualifying spot (3.779 seconds, 326.32 mph) for the second consecutive event (Phoenix). He defeated Leah Pruett and Brandon Bernstein on his way to his 58th semi-final showing in his 16-year straight line racing career.
In the semis, Kalitta matched up against Clay Millican. For the first time in eliminations, the Mac Tools dragster struggled to maintain valuable traction as it went into tire smoke just before the half-track marker, and that allowed Millican to advance, 4.125 sec., 243.33 mph to 3.818 sec., 323.27 mph.
“It was good to go some rounds today,” Kalitta said. “Our Mac Tools ride has been putting up some huge numbers so far this season, but we really haven’t been able to get very far on Sunday until today. It was good to kind of get that monkey off our back.”
Kalitta moves up to the No. 4 position in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points (187).
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 great career. He was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion.
More...
