Richie Crampton and the DHL Top Fuel dragster will be rolling into Bandimere Speedway with an eye on the Western Swing and also an eye on etching their name onto a list of Team Kalitta Top Fuel winners at the Mile-High Nationals. Since 1984 when Connie Kalitta hoisted the Wally as the Mile-High Nationals Top Fuel winner three more team Kalitta drivers have taken the Top Fuel title at the famed track carved into the side of the mountains west of Denver.
Team founder and leader Connie Kalitta as two Mile-High Nationals wins (1984 and 1985), the late Scott Kalitta has three (1995, 1995 and 2004), current Mac Tools teammate Doug Kalitta has a win in 2010 and J.R. Todd picked up the most recent Top Fuel win for Team Kalitta in 2014 when he was wheeling the Sealmaster Top Fuel dragster.
“The Kalitta team has a lot of history in Top Fuel at the Mile-High Nationals for sure,” said Crampton. “We are going to be trying our best to add our name to that list. This DHL Top Fuel dragster has been running really well. We were No. 2 in Epping and raced to the semifinals before we ran into Steve Torrence who is a tough guy to beat. I like our chances in Denver.”
Since his historic back-to-back win at the Gatornationals Richie Crampton has been battling to get into a groove that carries over from qualifying into race day. His team is quick in qualifying and has suffered through some tough draws on race day. They have also battled tricky track conditions or shortened qualifying sessions that have set them back in the field only to rise to the occasion on race day and turn heads with win lights.
“I think we have been doing a lot of things right all season and we just haven’t gotten some breaks,” said Crampton. “No one is promised anything out here. You have to earn it every race and every round. These DHL guys have been giving me a great race car and I am really focusing on being the best driver I can be. I think once it all comes together we will be a really strong team.”
The DHL Top Fuel team is sitting on the No. 8 spot in the Mello Yello point standings. They are just a handful of points out of No. 7 with five races left on the regular season. More importantly they have a solid point separation from the Top Fuel teams in 10th and 11th place. Nothing is guaranteed for any team but continuing to go rounds and finishing the western swing strong will set up Crampton for a solid run at the championship.
“Everyone has a chance to win the Western Swing starting this weekend at the Mile-High Nationals,” said Crampton. “We want to take it one race at a time. If we don’t get the win this weekend we will focus on Seattle. Once course we want to win in Denver and get a leg up on the sweep as well as our competitors but we are focusing on going rounds every race.”
2018 Mile High NHRA Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 5; Beat Terry McMillen; Lost to Clay Millican
Last Event Recap (2019 New England NHRA Nationals): Qual. No. 2; Beat Audrey Worm, bye; Lost to Steve Torrence
Quotable: Crampton on starting the Western Swing: “So many of my Team Kalitta Top Fuel teammates have won the Mile-High Nationals it would be great to get another Top Fuel win here. I am excited to get to Bandimere Speedway and see what we can do.”
Career Stats: 116 events, 115 starts, 97 round wins, 9 wins, 11 finals, 5 No. 1 qualifiers
2019 Season:
Winternationals: Qual. No. 6; Lost to Terry McMillen
Arizona Nationals: Qual. No. 15; Lost to Terry McMillen
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 12; WINNER, Beat Antron Brown, Leah Pritchett, TJ Zizzo and Clay Millican
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 6; Beat Scott Palmer, Cameron Ferre; Lost to Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force
Houston: Qual. No. 13; Lost to Clay Millican
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 12; Lost to Doug Kalitta and Leah Pritchett
Atlanta: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Scott Palmer
Richmond: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Austin Prock
Chicago: Qual. No. 11; Beat Austin Prock; Lost to Steve Torrence
Topeka: Qual. No. 7; Beat Terry McMillen; Lost to Billy Torrence
Bristol: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Terry McMillen
Norwalk: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Billy Torrence
Epping: Qual. No. 2; Beat Audrey Worm, bye; Lost to Steve Torrence
Kalitta Motorsports PR
