Pre-Race Report
Event 20: AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals
Gateway Motorsports Park
Madison, Ill.
Sept. 21 - 23
Event 20: AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals
Gateway Motorsports Park
Madison, Ill.
Sept. 21 - 23
St. Louis Highlights: Three wins (2001, 2003, 2004); Two No.1 qualifiers (2005, 2014)
Last Event Recap (NHRA Nationals): Qualified 8th; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round, Lost to Clay Millican in the quarterfinals)
2017 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified fourth; Finalist (Defeated Scott Palmer in the first round, Brittany Force in the quarterfinals, Dom Lagana in the semifinals, lost to Steve Torrence in the finals)
Quotable: “We didn't get the results we had hoped for in Reading, but this Mac Tools team is looking to get back on track in St. Louis. We've got a great car, and we definitely need to go some rounds this weekend to move up in the Countdown standings.”
Career Stats: 477 starts; 651 round wins (ninth all-time); 44 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel); 96 finals; 49 no.1 qualifiers (tied 14th all-time)
2018 Season: One Win (Pomona-I); Five finals (Pomona I, Charlotte I, Richmond, Denver, Indianapolis); 28 round wins; sixth in the standings
Noteworthy: Kalitta would hit 50 career No. 1 qualifying positions if he takes the top spot in St. Louis.
St. Louis Highlights: One No.1 qualifier (2016)
Last Event Recap (NHRA Nationals): Qualified 9th; First round loss (Lost to Doug Kalitta in the first round)
2017 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified 9th, First round loss (Lost to Dom Lagana in the first round)
Quotable: “I'm hoping for a stronger performance this weekend, because we didn't perform very well in Reading. Our goal is to qualify better, and get a few round wins for the Craftsman team."
Career Stats: 98 starts; 86 round wins; Eight wins; 10 finals; Five no.1 qualifiers
2018 Season: One win (Gainesville); 11 round wins; 11th in the standings
Reading Highlights: One win (2016 - Top Fuel); One No. 1 qualifier (2013 - Top Fuel)
Last Event Recap (NHRA Nationals): Qualified sixth; First round loss (Lost to Robert Hight in the first round)
2017 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified tenth; First round loss (Lost to Steve Torrence in the first round)
Quotable: "We've had some bad luck recently, because we have run really well but lost a few races by extremely small margins. It's a part of drag racing, but we are going to keep trying to improve our car and have some more success going forward.”
Career Stats: 225 starts; 261 round wins; 14 wins; 30 finals; 18 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 19 starts; 14 round wins)
2018 Season: 19 starts; 14 round wins; Tenth in the standings
Last Event Recap (NHRA Nationals): Qualified eighth; Race Winner (Defeated Bob Tasca in the first round, Mike Smith in the quarterfinals, Ron Capps in the semifinals and Tim Wilkerson in the finals)
2017 NHRA Midwest Nationals Recap: Qualified tenth; First round loss (Lost to Courtney Force in the first round)
Quotable: “This DHL/Wix FIlters team has been racing smart, and we are glad to come out of Reading with the points lead. We know we are going to have to win a few more races to win a championship, because the Funny Car category is so tough, so we have to stay focused and keep going rounds.”
Career Stats: 191 starts; 195 round wins; 15 wins; 25 finals; 10 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 43 starts; Six wins (2017: Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading); Six finals (2017: Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading); 46 round wins)
2018 Season: Four wins (Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading); 28 round wins; First in the point standings
All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.
