Kalitta Sweeps Pomona With NHRA Finals Win; Falls Three Points Shy of Top Fuel Title
POMONA, CA – Doug Kalitta registered the quickest pass of the day to knock off teammate Richie Crampton to win 
an all-Toyota Top Fuel final at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Sunday. With the victory, Kalitta fell just three points short of the Top Fuel world championship.
In the first round, Kalitta never trailed against Terry McMillen, having an advantage at the tree and going on to the victory. Kalitta had a slight deficit at the tree in round tree, but rebounded quickly for the win over Justin Ashley. In the semifinals against Leah Pritchett, Kalitta had the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. In the finals, it was all Kalitta. He turned in the day’s best reaction time with a .037 light. Crampton was able to stay with him through the 60’ mark, but Kalitta pulled away by 330 feet and went on to lay down a 3.716-second pass, the quickest run of race day.
“I was real proud of the effort put in by this whole Mac Tools Toyota team today,” said Kalitta. “Our goal today was to get to the final and we did that. In qualifying, with Steve getting above us in Q4 to take a 63-point lead it put us down three rounds and that was tough to make up. We ended up just short, but we gave it all we could. Winning a championship is still on our bucket list. I love running here at Pomona and to come out of here with a win in the 60th year with Connie is amazing..”
Crampton began the day as the number 14 qualifier, matching him up in the opening round with third seeded Mike Salinas, who was up in smoke right at the hit, ending his day. Crampton would smoke the tires, as well, but was able to recover on the way to the win. In round two versus Shawn Reed, Crampton had a huge .044-second lead at the light and never trailed sending him into the semifinals against eventual series champion Steve Torrence. Both drivers ran exceptional passes in a 3.762-3.751 battle, but Crampton would get the win on a holeshot sending him into the final against Kalitta.
Antron Brown’s day in Top Fuel didn’t go nearly as well. Opening up against Brittany Force, Brown had a big advantage on the tree (.049 to .072), but went up in smoke quickly. Force lost traction just past half-track, but was able to hold on for the victory.
In Funny Car, both Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd advanced to the second round.
After qualifying fourth, Langdon came out firing in the opening round, registering a .006 light and never trailed in defeating Jeff Arend. The victory set up a second-round match-up against point leader Robert Hight, but Langdon almost didn’t get a chance to run as one of his parachutes fell out of the pack before the burnout. The team quickly repacked it and he was able to run in a thriller against Hight. The two ran virtually dead even until just before the 660’ mark when Hight finally took the lead and went on to victory.
Todd, who drove his Camry to the 2018 world championship, opened up with Tommy Johnson in the first round. Todd had a slight advantage at the tree and then stayed out front on the way to the victory with a 3.972-second pass. Todd then advanced to face Jack Beckman in round two. Todd had a decisive .021 lead at the tree and held off Beckman to the 60-foot mark, but Beckman would take the lead and led the rest of the way.
John Hale rounded out the Camry contingent, falling in the first round against Beckman.
The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will kick off its 2020 campaign back in Pomona with Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, February 7-9.
