Mac Tools Team and Doug Kalitta Racing for Another U.S. Nationals Win

photo by Auto Imagery, Inc.

The regular season ends this weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals and Doug Kalitta will be focusing on picking up his second win at the “Big Go!” on the sport’s biggest stage. Two years ago, Kalitta defeated Billy Torrence in the final to collect his first U.S. Nationals title and winning for a second time would give the Mac Tools team a perfectly timed boost headed into the NHRA Countdown playoffs. The perennial championship contender is pursuing his 50th Top Fuel win and looking to extend the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel win streak in Indy. Last season teammate Shawn Langdon won the event so Kalitta would like to make it three in a row in Top Fuel.
 
“We got the win a couple years ago and then Shawn won with Connie last year,” said Kalitta. “It would be great to keep that win streak going. This Mac Tools team has been working hard all season and we just need one or two things to go our way on race day.”
 
The veteran driver has raced to two final rounds this season picking up runner-up honors at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals and at the Houston SpringNationals. Since those early season successes, the Mac Tools team has been working to get the momentum needed to make a run once again for the championship. Kalitta needs to be one of the top ten teams to race for the championship at the conclusion of the U.S. Nationals and he is aware of the daunting task in front of him.
 
“You have to be in the top ten to race for the championship and we control our own destiny,” said Kalitta. “A good weekend in Indy could move us up a couple of spots in the top ten. That would be a great deal for us as we head into three playoff races in a row after this weekend.”
 
Kalitta’s recent success at Indianapolis Raceway Park has the Mac Tools team confident heading into the weekend. The 2019 U.S. Nationals win was preceded by a runner-up finish in 2018. He also has two more runner-up finishes from 2004 and 2008 to his credit. The breakthrough win in 2019 was huge and another win this season could be just as monumental.
 
“We have been to the finals at Indy a number of time and this place is really special,” said Kalitta. “You can turn your season around with a win at the U.S. Nationals. We are going to give it everything we have like we do at every race. We will have a lot of support from our sponsors across the board. It will be a bust weekend and hopefully a long race day.”
 
2020 NHRA U.S. Nationals Highlights:  Qual. No. 5; Beat Pat Dakin; Lost to Justin Ashley
 
Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA Brainerd Nationals): Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
 
Career Stats: 536 events, 529 starts, 721 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
2021 Season: 
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 4; Beat Arthur Allen; Lost to Justin Ashley
Las Vegas1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 3; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey, Beat Shawn Langdon and Leah Pruett; Lost to Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Antron Brown
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 12; Beat Josh Hart, Billy Torrence, Kyle Wurtzel; Lost to Brittany Force, Josh Hart
Houston: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 9; Beat Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon; Lost to Steve Torrence
Epping: Qual. No. 5; Beat Shawn Langdon, Lost to Mike Salinas
Norwalk: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown      
Denver: Qual. No. 4; Lost to Leah Pruett
Sonoma: Qual. No. 8; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Pomona1: Qual. No. 6; Lost to Clay Millican
Topeka: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
 

Kalitta Motorsports PR

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