Heading into the ninth installment of the NHRA New England Nationals Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster team are focused on maintaining their qualifying success and translating that into win lights on race day. This season has seen the Mac Tools team grab a No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, a feat they also achieved at the 2013 New England Nationals. Additionally, this season Kalitta has never qualified lower that No. 6 at the previous seven races.
“We have been getting after it in qualifying for sure,” said Kalitta, who has 51 No. 1 qualifiers to his credit. “We have lost qualifying rounds to weather a couple races, but my Mac Tools guys always give me a great race car. We have had some issues on race day, but we are putting those behind us and focusing on getting the job done at New England Dragway this weekend.”
Kalitta raced to a runner-up finish at the 2014 installment of the New England Nationals. The No. 2 qualifier took out Terry McMillen, Khalid AlBalooshi and Richie Crampton before dropping a close final round to Tony Schumacher. Three years later Kalitta, who is pursuing his 50th Top Fuel national event win, recorded the track speed record with a monster 331.69 mph pass in his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.
“These Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars are the fastest race cars on the planet so getting a track speed record is pretty cool,” said Kalitta. “You really want to get those win lights on Sunday. We have been going more rounds lately and I think we have more good things in front of us this weekend.”
Over the off-season world championship crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen joined Kalitta Motorsports to lead the tuning duties on the Mac Tools team. The duo has settled in, and the progress and consistency have been improving throughout the season. The tandem has been working closely with all the Kalitta Motorsports teams.
“I think the biggest assets Alan and Brian bring to the team is new perspective and so much experience,” said Kalitta. “We raced against those guys for a lot of years and I am very happy to have them on my team now. I have a lot of confidence every time I hit the gas because I know all my Mac Tools guys are giving me their best.”
Qualifying for the New England Nationals will begin on Friday night with one nighttime session followed by two Saturday qualifying sessions. Sunday’s elimination rounds will begin at 11 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
2021 NHRA New England Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 5, Beat Shawn Langdon; Lost to Mike Salinas
Last Event Recap 2022 Virginia Nationals: Qual 6; Beat Leah Pruett; Lost to Austin Prock
Career Stats: 551 events, 544 starts, 727 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 51 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual. 5; Lost to Tony Schumacher
Arizona Nationals: Qual. 1; Lost to Rob Passey
Gatornationals: Qual 5; Beat Alex Laughlin; Lost to Mike Salinas
Las Vegas1: Qual 6; Lost to Leah Pruett and Shawn Langdon
Houston: Qual 3; Lost to Billy Torrence
Charlotte1: Qual 4; Beat Alex Laughlin, Doug Foley; Lost to Mike Salinas, Cameron Ferre
Richmond: Qual 6; Beat Leah Pruett; Lost to Austin Prock
Kalitta Motorsports PR
