Team Kalitta Pre-Race Report - Houston (1 Viewer)

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Pre-Race Report

Event 05: NHRA SpringNationals
Royal Purple Raceway
Baytown, Texas
April 20-22​

Kalitta plans to continue run of recent Houston success
Houston Highlights: Three wins (2016, 2015, 2003); Three no. 1 qualifiers (2013, 2003, 2002)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals): Qualified sixth; Third in the final quad (Defeated Brittany Force and Terry Haddock in the first round and Richie Crampton and Leah Pritchett in the quarterfinals, lost to Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher in the finals)

2017 NHRA SpringNationals Recap: Qualified third; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Terry McMillen in the first round, lost to Leah Pritchett in the quarterfinals)

Quotable: “Houston has been a great track for the Mac Tools team here recently. We had a strong performance in Las Vegas and are looking for that second win of the season in Houston.”

Career Stats: 462 starts; 629 round wins (ninth all-time); 44 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel); 92 finals; 49 no.1 qualifiers (tied 14th all-time)

2018 Season: One Win (Pomona-I); Six round wins; fifth in the standings

2017 Season Recap: One win (Charlotte-II); Four finals (Pomona-I, Norwalk, Charlotte-II, St. Louis); Two no.1 qualifiers (Norwalk, Charlotte-II); 34 round wins; third in the standings

Noteworthy: Next no.1 qualifier is 50th of his career, would be the 14th driver to earn that mark; active leader in Top Fuel wins in Houston; only driver in Houston history to win consecutive Top Fuel races (2015 and 2016)​

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Crampton desires to continue early season success
Last Event Recap (Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals): Qualified 11th; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Brittany Force and Terry Haddock in the first round, lost to Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown in the quarterfinals)

2017 NHRA SpringNationals Recap: Did not compete

Quotable: “I love Texas. The team are doing a great job and we are running good right now, so I am optimistic about having another big weekend in Houston with the Kalitta Air team.”

Career Stats: 83 starts; 80 round wins; Eight wins; 10 finals; Five no.1 qualifiers

2018 Season: One win (Gainesville); Five round wins; sixth in the standings

2017 Season Stats: Seven starts; One final (Charlotte-II); Five round wins

Noteworthy: Crampton will be in Houston as part of the NHRA pre-race press tour on Thursday.​

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Langdon looks for a rebound in Houston
Houston Highlights: One final (2013)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals): Qualified 14th; First round loss (Lost to J.R. Todd and John Force in the first round)

2017 NHRA SpringNationals (Top Fuel): Qualified 10th; First round loss (lost to Bob Vandergriff in the first round)

Quotable: “It is crazy to think I have been with Kalitta Motorsports for a year. It has flown by and I have had a blast. It has been a great year with Steve and Samantha Bryson and everyone from Global Electronic Technology; I could not ask for a better partnership with a sponsor. I am excited to be racing Funny Car in Houston. They have a new track that looks fast. Hopefully the weather stays away and we have some good racing.”

Career Stats: 209 starts; 251 round wins; 14 wins; 30 finals; 18 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: Four starts; Four round wins)

2018 Season: Four starts; Four round wins; eighth in the standings

2017 Season Stats: 20 starts; Two finals (Dallas, Pomona II); 17 round wins; seventh in the point standings

Noteworthy: Langdon is celebrating his one year anniversary with Kalitta Motorsports in Houston; at the 2017 SpringNationals, he made his Kalitta debut in the Global Electronic Technology Top Fuel dragster​

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Todd excited for Houston after early season win
Houston Highlights: One win (2007)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals): Qualified third; Race Winner (Defeated Bob Tasca and Shawn Langdon in the first round, John Force and Del Worsham in the quarterfinals and Jack Beckman, Courtney Force and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the finals)

2017 NHRA SpringNationals: Qualified 12th; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round, lost Robert Hight in the quarterfinals)

Quotable: “It is nice to be coming off of a win. We hope to carry that momentum into Houston and try to pick another victory. It will be interesting to see how the new track surface fares as we did well with a new surface in Las Vegas.”

Career Stats: 176 starts; 171 round wins; 12 wins; 22 finals; 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 28 starts; Three wins (2017: Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I); Three finals (2017: Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I); 23 round wins)

2018 Season: One win (Las Vegas-I); Four round wins; sixth in the point standings

2017 Season Stats: 24 starts; Two wins (Sonoma, Indianapolis); Three finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis); 18 round wins; ninth in the point standings

Noteworthy: Las Vegas victory was earliest season win since 2007 (Pomona-I); Kalitta Motorsports has won three of the first four races for the second time in team history (2014)
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All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.​