The Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster and driver Doug Kalitta had a strong day at the NHRA Northwest Nationals racing to a quarterfinal finish. Through two days of qualifying Kalitta earned three qualifying bonus points after posting the second quickest pass of the second session and the third quickest pass of the final session. Heading into elimination Sunday Kalitta was facing a first round race against Alex Laughlin.
The veteran driver grabbed a starting line advantage with a .065 reaction time and never trailed in the race. His Mac Tools dragster made another quick run lighting up the scoreboard with a 3.837 second pass at 322.11 mph for the win.
In the second round Kalitta was once again first off the line with a strong 3.827 second pass, his quickest of the weekend, in a losing effort. The perennial championship contender took the positives from the weekend as he wrapped up another Western Swing.
“This Mac Tools Toyota dragster has been running really well all season and this weekend we battled some really hot track conditions,” said Kalitta, a 49-time Top Fuel national event winner. “My guys gave me a great race car today and we stepped it up in the second round. That was a close race and we can build on all our runs for these last three races of the regular season.”
Kalitta, who is sitting eighth in the Top Fuel point standings, will look to make a move up in the top ten over the final three races before the Countdown starts.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.831 sec, 320.58 mph)
Bonus points: +3 (2nd quickest of Q2 and 3rd quickest of Q3)
Race Details:
First Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
4 Doug Kalitta .065 3.837 322.11 (W)
13 Alex Laughlin .084 3.856 315.34
Second Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
4 Doug Kalitta .075 3.827 316.67
12 Leah Pruett .080 3.818 322.42 (W)
Kalitta Motorsports PR
