As the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series moves into the third race of the Countdown Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools team are working to take advantage of a familiar track. The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway has been an event that Kalitta has dominated throughout his career. The 49-time Top Fuel national event winner is the second most winningest driver in track history with four Top Fuel titles. Last year Kalitta raced to the win as the No. 5 qualifier defeating Shawn Langdon, TJ Zizzo, Tony Schumacher, and Steve Torrence.
“We had a pretty good day at the track the last time we were in St. Louis,” said Doug Kalitta. “I really enjoy racing at that track. We have won a lot of races there and been runner-up a couple times too. The track is fast and I am looking forward to getting back their this weekend.”
This season has seen Kalitta chase Top Fuel history looking to record his 50th Top Fuel win. He has recorded two runner-up finishes and raced his way into the Countdown to guarantee his 24th consecutive year with a Top Ten finish.
“We have had a consistent race car for a long, long time and I know we can get on a roll over these last five races,” said Kalitta. “I have been with Mac Tools for 20 years and they are a great sponsor. We want to go out to St. Louis and show them what this team can do. We have five races left in the Countdown and our goal is to make the most of every one of them.”
Kalitta’s success at the NHRA Midwest Nationals dates back twenty years to his first win at the track that is in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. From 2001-2004 Kalitta picked up three Top Fuel wins. He also has two No. 1 qualifiers at the track located ten minutes from downtown St. Louis starting from the top of the class in 2014 and 2005.
This season the Mac Tools Top Fuel team has started from the top half of the field seven times. The veteran driver is working to keep one of the most impressive streaks of consistency alive as the 2021 season nears the finish line. Kalitta has raced to at least three final rounds every season since 2012 a feat that few drivers in any of the professional ranks can match.
“Our goal every season is to win the championship and you want to be in contention over the last handful of races,” said Kalitta. “We have an uphill battle right now but like I have said we have had good luck in St. Louis and then we have four more playoff races to make up some ground. If you can get to Pomona and be close to the top anything can happen.”
Qualifying will begin on Friday night with one session followed by two more runs on Saturday. For the second race in a row eliminations will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The race will be nationally televised on FS1 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
2020 NHRA Midwest Nationals Highlights: WINNER; Qual. No. 5; Beat Shawn Langdon, TJ Zizzo, Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrence
Last Event Recap (2021 DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals): Qual. No. 12; Lost to Steve Torrence
Career Stats: 539 events, 532 starts, 722 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Kalitta Motorsports PR
