Race Information:
Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals
Sonoma Raceway; Sonoma, Calif.
TV Schedule:
Qualifying 1: Noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29 on FS1
Qualifying 2: 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, July 30 on FS1
Finals: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, July 30 on FOX
Team Kalitta Riding Western Swing Wave, Hopes to Finish the Job in Sonoma Wine Country
2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron August and Josh Hart before losing to Mike Salinas in the semifinals.
Career Stats: 577 events, 750 round wins, 49 wins, 109 final rounds, 52 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gatornationals: Qualified third; defeated Spencer Massey, Antron Brown; lost to Steve Torrence
Phoenix: Qualified No. 1; defeated Rob Passey, lost to Shawn Langdon.
Pomona: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown in the first round.
Las Vegas: Qualified 10th; lost to Steve Torrence and Josh Hart in the first round.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel, lost to Clay Millican.
Epping: Qualified 12th; lost to Leah Pruett.
Bristol: Qualified No. 6; defeated Clay Millican and Steve Torrence before lost to Antron Brown.
Norwalk: Qualified No. 4; lost to Dan Mercier in the first round.
Denver: Qualified No. 2; defeated Terry Totten, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence before losing to Clay Millican in the final round.
Seattle: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron Smith, had a second-round bye and defeated Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence when the Mac Tools Toyota dragster smoked the tires during the final-round run.
Current Point Standings: Kalitta enters Sonoma in sixth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails fifth-place Austin Prock by 17 points and leads seventh-place Antron Brown by 13 points.
2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron August and Josh Hart before losing to Mike Salinas in the semifinals.
Career Stats: 577 events, 750 round wins, 49 wins, 109 final rounds, 52 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gatornationals: Qualified third; defeated Spencer Massey, Antron Brown; lost to Steve Torrence
Phoenix: Qualified No. 1; defeated Rob Passey, lost to Shawn Langdon.
Pomona: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown in the first round.
Las Vegas: Qualified 10th; lost to Steve Torrence and Josh Hart in the first round.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel, lost to Clay Millican.
Epping: Qualified 12th; lost to Leah Pruett.
Bristol: Qualified No. 6; defeated Clay Millican and Steve Torrence before lost to Antron Brown.
Norwalk: Qualified No. 4; lost to Dan Mercier in the first round.
Denver: Qualified No. 2; defeated Terry Totten, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence before losing to Clay Millican in the final round.
Seattle: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron Smith, had a second-round bye and defeated Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence when the Mac Tools Toyota dragster smoked the tires during the final-round run.
Current Point Standings: Kalitta enters Sonoma in sixth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails fifth-place Austin Prock by 17 points and leads seventh-place Antron Brown by 13 points.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (July 26, 2023) – With five Sonoma Top Fuel wins to his credit, Doug Kalitta is the winningest Top Fuel driver in Sonoma Raceway history, and to say the Michigan driver’s Mac Tools Toyota team is hungry after two runner-up finishes at the last two races would be a monumental understatement. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., July 28-30, 2023.
Kalitta has five wins in six final-round appearances at Sonoma, but none would be sweeter than his sixth should it happen this weekend. If it happens, that sixth win would also be Kalitta’s 50th career victory and add to his storied career. Kalitta and team continue to make progress in a season that’s had its’ ups and downs. Qualifying has been solid all season with eight top-six efforts in 11 races, a No. 1 qualifier and No. 2 qualifiers at each of the last two races.
“The Mac Tools car has been strong in qualifying, but we just need another break or two to go our way on race day,” Kalitta said. “This sport can be humbling – it seems like you need one thing to go your way if you want to get that win. We go into Sonoma with a lot of support from Mac Tools, Revchem and Toyota; I know they’ll be behind us, and I know the Sonoma fans will be behind us.”
Kalitta advanced to at least the semifinals at three of the last four races, and reached the final round at each of the first two Western swing races in Denver and Sonoma. Perhaps returning to a track on which he’s had abundant success, including his first-career win way back in 1998, will provide the missing mojo.
“We have a great team on this Mac Tools dragster; getting to the finals in back-to-back races was really good,” Kalitta added. “It was also great to have two of Connie’s cars in the final last week in Seattle. All my guys are working together to get it done, but we’re all hungry and ready to take that next step and get that next race win.”
THREE-TIME SONOMA WINNER J.R. TODD ENTERS SONOMA WITH CONFIDENT DHL TOYOTA TEAM
2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified 10th; defeated Tim Wilkerson before losing to John Force in the second round.
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified sixth; defeated Blake Alexander, Robert Hight, Chad Green; lost to Matt Hagan in final.
Phoenix: Qualified 15th and lost to Alexis DeJoria in the first round.
Pomona: Qualified fifth and lost to Alex Laughlin in the first round.
Las Vegas: Did not qualify.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6 but lost to Robert Hight and Mike McIntire in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; lost to Bob Tasca in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 8; defeated Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan before losing to John Force in the semifinals.
Bristol: Qualified No. 7; lost to John Force.
Norwalk: Qualified No. 7; defeated John Force and Ron Capps before losing to Matt Hagan in the semifinals.
Denver: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tim Wilkerson and John Force before losing to Alexis Dejoria in the semifinals.
Seattle: Qualified No. 5; defeated Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green before losing to Tim Wilkerson by .0522 seconds in the final round.
Current Point Standings: Todd enters Sonoma in ninth place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails eight-place John Force by 27 points and leads 10th-place Cruz Pedregon by 70 points.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 288 events, 313 round wins, 19 wins, 43 final rounds, 14 No. 1 qualifiers
J.R. Todd and his DHL Toyota team are on a roll – the team reached at least the semifinals in four of the last five races and is headed to a track on which Todd has multiple wins. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., July 28-30, 2023.2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified 10th; defeated Tim Wilkerson before losing to John Force in the second round.
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified sixth; defeated Blake Alexander, Robert Hight, Chad Green; lost to Matt Hagan in final.
Phoenix: Qualified 15th and lost to Alexis DeJoria in the first round.
Pomona: Qualified fifth and lost to Alex Laughlin in the first round.
Las Vegas: Did not qualify.
Charlotte: Qualified No. 6 but lost to Robert Hight and Mike McIntire in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 3; lost to Bob Tasca in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 8; defeated Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan before losing to John Force in the semifinals.
Bristol: Qualified No. 7; lost to John Force.
Norwalk: Qualified No. 7; defeated John Force and Ron Capps before losing to Matt Hagan in the semifinals.
Denver: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tim Wilkerson and John Force before losing to Alexis Dejoria in the semifinals.
Seattle: Qualified No. 5; defeated Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green before losing to Tim Wilkerson by .0522 seconds in the final round.
Current Point Standings: Todd enters Sonoma in ninth place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails eight-place John Force by 27 points and leads 10th-place Cruz Pedregon by 70 points.
J.R. Todd Career Stats: 288 events, 313 round wins, 19 wins, 43 final rounds, 14 No. 1 qualifiers
The DHL GR Supra team raced for the win in Seattle last weekend; Tim Wilkerson won the race, but it was another strong showing from Todd and his team. It’s been a good Western swing for the 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion, and now is the time keep it going.
“This is the time of the year to start rolling and making moves,” Todd said. “I keep saying we’ve got to start going to the later rounds and getting points, gaining on these guys in front of us and hope they go out early so we can pick up some positions going into the countdown. This is the time of the year to make that happen.
“I have a handful of wins at Sonoma, and we’ve just run well there in the past; it’s one of my favorite places to go on the tour. With the momentum we have going right now, we need to keep it going, hopefully go to another final and finish the deal. Funny Car is so tough right now; it humbles you. Just when you think you have things figured out, you get shown up there in the final. You can’t take things for granted - you just have to keep digging.
“When we make good, consistent runs, it gives Todd and John-O (co crew chiefs Todd Smith and John Oberhofer) something to go off of and make adjustments. That gives me confidence as a driver, and it gives the guys confidence working on the car. If we keep running like we are now, I feel like a win is coming soon.”
LANGDON HEADS TO SONOMA FOLLOWING TWO SEMIFINALS, LOOKS FOR MORE
2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified ninth; defeated Antron Brown and Leah Pruett before losing to Brittany Force in the semifinals.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 320 events, 341 round wins, 17 wins, 38 final rounds, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown by two 10 thousandths of a second.
Phoenix: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Pomona: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tony Schumacher, lost to Brittany Force.
Las Vegas: Qualified No. 6; defeated Krista Baldwin and Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence and
Josh Hart in the semifinals.
Charlotte: Qualified 11th, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 6; lost to Clay Millican in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 2; lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round.
Bristol: Qualified 14th; lost to Steve Torrence.
Norwalk: Qualified 14th; lost to Brittany Force.
Denver: Qualified No. 9; defeated Greg Carrillo and Rob Passey before losing to Clay Millican in the
semifinals.
Seattle: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown and Mike Salinas before losing to Steve Torrence by .0609 seconds in the semifinals.
Point Standings: Langdon enters Sonoma in 11th place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails 10th-place Clay Millican by 24 points and leads 12th-place Tony Schumacher by 91 points.
2022 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Recap: Qualified ninth; defeated Antron Brown and Leah Pruett before losing to Brittany Force in the semifinals.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 320 events, 341 round wins, 17 wins, 38 final rounds, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown by two 10 thousandths of a second.
Phoenix: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Pomona: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tony Schumacher, lost to Brittany Force.
Las Vegas: Qualified No. 6; defeated Krista Baldwin and Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence and
Josh Hart in the semifinals.
Charlotte: Qualified 11th, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 6; lost to Clay Millican in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 2; lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round.
Bristol: Qualified 14th; lost to Steve Torrence.
Norwalk: Qualified 14th; lost to Brittany Force.
Denver: Qualified No. 9; defeated Greg Carrillo and Rob Passey before losing to Clay Millican in the
semifinals.
Seattle: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown and Mike Salinas before losing to Steve Torrence by .0609 seconds in the semifinals.
Point Standings: Langdon enters Sonoma in 11th place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails 10th-place Clay Millican by 24 points and leads 12th-place Tony Schumacher by 91 points.
Progress is defined as “forward or onward movement toward a destination,” and if the destination is advancing deep into race day and challenging for race wins, Shawn Langdon and his Kalitta Air Careers Toyota team are making some progress. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., July 28-30, 2023.
Langdon won at Sonoma in 2013, the year he went on to win the NHRA Top Fuel Championship. The Kalitta Air Careers team remains focused on its destination – winning races. After several rough outings, this race team has two solid Western swing showings with mid-field qualifying followed by consecutive semifinal appearances. One thing, though, does not stand out as the difference maker.
“We’ve really kinda been doing the same things; we’re just starting to get a little race day luck,” Langdon said. “The car’s been better in qualifying. We’ve been staying away from the bottom half of the field a little better and not racing the people who are laying down low ET (elapsed time) in the first round on Sunday. We’re qualifying a little better and making a little bit better runs. We still have a long way to go, but we’re slowly getting better thanks to support from Kalitta Air, Revchem, Toyota – everyone who’s helping us get where we need to be. Things are starting to fall our way a little bit, but these things take time.
“It’s always good to go rounds on Sunday, but we want to get back to winning races,” Langdon added. “But we have to take it one step at a time. I’ve always liked Sonoma, and we’re looking forward to getting there this weekend. It’s definitely more fun to go to the race track when the team’s going some rounds, but again, we’re here to win races so this team is not satisfied. We want to win races, and we’ll stay at it until we get there.”
