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POMONA, Calif., (Nov. 11, 2006) – Doug Kalitta, driver of the bright red, 8,000-horsepower Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster and current POWERade championship points leader, will enter Sunday’s final eliminations at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of 2006, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, from the No. 1 qualifying position at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Doug and his Mac Tools team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler made a dazzling 4.452-second, 328.86-mph lap in the fourth and final qualifying session Saturday night to take the top spot. Doug will race No. 16 qualifier Alan Bradshaw (4.585 sec., 320.28 mph) in the first round of eliminations tomorrow.
Doug’s primary race car rail suffered chassis damage in the third qualifying session, but after a mad thrash by the Mac Tools team and many other Kalitta Motorsports team members Doug was able to not only roll to the starting line for the final session but to also take the point in dramatic fashion.
“What an awesome job by our entire Kalitta team,” Doug said. “I have an amazing crew and with all of the help we got from our whole team we were able to get out our spare car and never miss a beat. I just can’t say enough about this team.”
Doug enters final eliminations with a 46-point lead over second place holder Tony Schumacher in POWERade championship points.
Doug’s Top Fuel teammate and native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the StriVectin-SD dragster qualified in the No. 5 position (4.488 sec., 326.00 mph). Grubnic will face off against No. 12 qualifier Morgan Lucas (4.567 sec., 324.75 mph) in the opening round.
Doug’s cousin Scott Kalitta, driver of the Red Line Oil/Technicoat Companies Toyota Solara Nitro Funny Car, qualified for the final event of 2006 in the final, No. 16 (4.843 sec., 319.37 mph), qualifying slot for final eliminations in the Funny Car class. Scott will race No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman (4.671 sec., 333.66 mph) in the initial stanza of eliminations.
Sunday’s final eliminations begin with the Top Fuel class at 11:00 a.m. (PT).
NHRA Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta qualifies No. 1 at season-ending event in Pomona
POMONA, Calif., (Nov. 11, 2006) – Doug Kalitta, driver of the bright red, 8,000-horsepower Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster and current POWERade championship points leader, will enter Sunday’s final eliminations at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of 2006, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, from the No. 1 qualifying position at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Doug and his Mac Tools team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler made a dazzling 4.452-second, 328.86-mph lap in the fourth and final qualifying session Saturday night to take the top spot. Doug will race No. 16 qualifier Alan Bradshaw (4.585 sec., 320.28 mph) in the first round of eliminations tomorrow.
Doug’s primary race car rail suffered chassis damage in the third qualifying session, but after a mad thrash by the Mac Tools team and many other Kalitta Motorsports team members Doug was able to not only roll to the starting line for the final session but to also take the point in dramatic fashion.
“What an awesome job by our entire Kalitta team,” Doug said. “I have an amazing crew and with all of the help we got from our whole team we were able to get out our spare car and never miss a beat. I just can’t say enough about this team.”
Doug enters final eliminations with a 46-point lead over second place holder Tony Schumacher in POWERade championship points.
Doug’s Top Fuel teammate and native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the StriVectin-SD dragster qualified in the No. 5 position (4.488 sec., 326.00 mph). Grubnic will face off against No. 12 qualifier Morgan Lucas (4.567 sec., 324.75 mph) in the opening round.
Doug’s cousin Scott Kalitta, driver of the Red Line Oil/Technicoat Companies Toyota Solara Nitro Funny Car, qualified for the final event of 2006 in the final, No. 16 (4.843 sec., 319.37 mph), qualifying slot for final eliminations in the Funny Car class. Scott will race No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman (4.671 sec., 333.66 mph) in the initial stanza of eliminations.
Sunday’s final eliminations begin with the Top Fuel class at 11:00 a.m. (PT).
