Heading to Brainerd Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel team will be focused on finishing the regular season on a high note and moving into the NHRA Countdown with momentum. The traditionally cool and fast track at Brainerd International Raceway has been the site of four final round appearances for Kalitta including two wins for the 49-time Top Fuel winner. The pursuit of the 50th Top Fuel win could come to a conclusion this weekend with a strong performance from the Mac Tools team.
“We would love to get that 50th win for sure but really we want to build some momentum heading to Indy and into the Countdown,” said Kalitta. “This Mac Tools team has been working hard all season and we are ready to get those four round wins on Sunday.”
Throughout the season Kalitta has had a consistently quick race car in qualifying starting from the top half of the field every race except one. They have scored a No. 1 qualifier in Arizona and have also tallied six top four starts. During his career in Brainerd Kalitta has recorded three No. 1 qualifiers in 2010, 2004 and 2002.
“We have been quick in Brainerd in the past and won here a couple times,” said Kalitta. “The fans here are awesome and you see quite a few folks from Canada which is neat. We’ll get four qualifying runs and we want to get as many bonus points as possible and try to move up in the top ten.”
As the regular season winds down Kalitta is solidly in the top ten and within striking distance of a move up as high as fifth place. He is sitting in the eighth spot and when the championship points reset he could be within four or five rounds of the No. 1 position. The perennial championship contender knows Brainerd and then the U.S. Nationals with points and half will be great opportunities for his Mac Tools team.
“We have been working all season to be in a position to race for the championship,” said Kalitta. “I have a lot of confidence in this team and all the guys working on my car. We have been close a couple times this season to having really successful race days and we just need one or two things to go our way. We are working to make our own luck.”
The first two qualifying sessions will get underway on Friday followed by two more Saturday before final eliminations take off Sunday morning at 11 a.m. CT.
2021 NHRA Brainerd Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 9, Lost to Clay Millican
Last Event Recap 2022 Topeka Nationals: Qual. 5; Lost to Tony Schumacher
Career Stats: 558 events, 551 starts, 732 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 51 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual. 5; Lost to Tony Schumachersix top four
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
Epping: Qual 4; Beat Cameron Ferre; Lost to Shawn Langdon
Bristol: Qual 12; Lost to Brittany Force
Norwalk: Qual. No. 6; Beat Antron Brown; Lost to Mike Salinas
Denver: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Josh Hart
Sonoma: Qual. 2; Beat Ron August, Josh Hart; Lost to Mike Salinas
Seattle: Qual. 4; Beat Alex Laughlin; Lost to Leah Pruett
Topeka: Qual. 5; Lost to Tony Schumacher
Kalitta Motorsports PR
