Team Kalitta Post-Race Recap - Phoenix (1 Viewer)

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Post-Race Report
Event 2 of 24: NHRA Arizona Nationals
Wild Horse Pass Nationals
Chandler, AZ
February 22-24​

2018 Funny Car Champion Todd Comes Close to Delivering a Birthday Wally for Team Owner; Runner-Up Finish

Race Recap:
Todd came into today with an overall career 54% win record. This was his 198th first round appearance in both TF and FC. In round one, Todd faced Terry Haddock and was in trouble right off the line and had to pedal early. He gathered the Toyota Camry back up and took the long way down for the win; Haddock was late and then has issues early and he lifts and coasts. Second round Todd faced off with Tommy Johnson, Jr. Just 0.007 difference in RT's, but Johnson's engine dropped a cylinder immediately and quickly brought the car to a stop. Todd ran his best speed of the weekend to take the win. The semi final round paired him up with tough competitor and number one qualifier Robert Hight. Todd got a big starting line advantage and earns his way to his eighteenth final round with his best ET of the day and fastest speed of the weekend. Hight was late and couldn't match Todd's performance. Moving into the final round, his opponent Hagan had lane choice by just 0.003 seconds. An unfortunate malfunction with the safety system caused the DHL Toyota Camry to backfire at the green and pop out the chutes to coast to a stop at about 100 feet.

Todd has a career seventeen wins and twelve runner-ups, with eight wins and two runner-ups in Funny Car.

Statistics:

Qualified: No. 5 (3.911 sec., 321.35 mph)

Round 1
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftTerry Haddock120.1434.667182.62L
RightJ.R. Todd50.0814.655215.03W

Round 2
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftTommy Johnson Jr.40.0595.048134.74L
RightJ.R. Todd50.0523.967323.27W

Round 3
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftJ.R. Todd50.0733.919327.19W
RightRobert Hight10.1393.922326.24L

Round 4
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftJ.R. Todd50.077----L
RightMatt Hagan20.0483.89325.06W​

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Another Second Round Advancement for Langdon; Building a Solid Baseline
Race Recap: Langdon has already made 480 rounds of racing in both TF and FC. He has a career 55% win record, with a 63% round one win record. This weekend he added one more round win, defeating Cruz Pedregon in round one. Pedregon hit the tree with a "good guess" 0.006 light and stayed out in front to near the 330 lights, where the tires came loose and Langdon just flew on by for a decisive win. Langdon had lane choice over round two opponent Matt Hagan by just 0.008 seconds. Langdon got a small starting line advantage, but Hagan would eventually hold on for the win

Statistics:

Qualified: No. 7 (3.940 sec., 325.30 mph)



Round 1
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftCruz Pedregon100.0065.244144.18L
RightShawn Langdon70.0673.911326.24W


Round 2
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftMatt Hagan20.0843.894327.19W
RightShawn Langdon70.063.951326.48L​

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Kalitta Makes History in Phoenix
Race Recap: Doug Kalitta's first round win in Phoenix put him at 24 round wins at the Wild Horse Pass, the most for any active Top Fuel driver. Against first round opponent, Jim Maroney, Kalitta had the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He gave up lane choice to his second round Vandergriff in the next round. Jordan Vandergriff's MOV: 0.0308 seconds (approximately 15 feet). Vandergriff will give up lane choice to Torrence in the semifinal. Kalitta with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 5 (3.737 sec., 326.95 mph)

Round 1
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftJim Maroney120.0846.44797.24L
RightDoug Kalitta50.0643.741322.42W

Round 2
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftDoug Kalitta50.0823.735327.51L
RightJordan Vandergriff40.0533.734323.89W​

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Crampton Looks Forward to Repeating Win at Gatornationals after First Round Defeat
Race Recap: For the second race in a row, Crampton faced opponent Terry McMillen. Going into the round, the two had a tied record against each other (3 wins/3 losses). Despite the early lead by Crampton and his DHL Dragster team, the car hazed the tires around half track, allowing McMillen to drive around.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 15 (6.069 sec., 101.77 mph)


Round 1
LANEDRIVERQualifying PositionReaction TimeETMPHW/L
LeftRichie Crampton150.0644.061215.79L
RightTerry McMillen20.0683.726329.02W

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Photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship Standings:
Top Fuel

1. Billy Torrence 178
2. Doug Kalitta 172
3. Leah Pritchett 145
4. Steve Torrence 137
5. Terry McMillen 132
6. Mike Salinas 122
7. Antron Brown 115
8. Austin Prock 106
9. Jordan Vandergriff 77
10. Richie Crampton 66
11. Clay Millican 64
Scott Palmer 64
13. Cameron Ferre 63
14. Brittany Force 57
15. Jim Maroney 34
16. Steve Faria 31
17. Terry Totten 26

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight 205
2. Matt Hagan 160
3. Jack Beckman 151
4. Tommy Johnson Jr. 132
5. Bob Tasca III 129
6. John Force 126
J.R. Todd 126
8. Shawn Langdon 111
9. Ron Capps 89
10. Cruz Pedregon 86
11. Tim Wilkerson 71
12. Terry Haddock 63
13. Phil Burkart 62
14. Jim Campbell 58
15. Gary Densham 42
16. Jeff Diehl 41
17. Blake Alexander 32
Frank Pedregon 32
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