Kalitta Motorsports
WITH SIGHTS SET ON ELUSIVE TOP FUEL TITLE, DOUG KALITTA READY FOR NEW NHRA SEASON
YPSILANTI, MI – For veteran Top Fuel racer Doug Kalitta, “winning the championship is 100 percent our goal,” and why not? The driver of 
the Mac Tools dragster has done just about everything else in the Top Fuel class. He has six runner-up season finishes, 49 race wins and 51 No. 1 qualifiers to his credit. Kalitta also has three wins at historic Gainesville Raceway, site of this week’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season-opening Amalie Oil Gatornationals set for March 10-12, 2023.
“We want to get whatever round wins and race wins we need to put ourselves in position to win the Top Fuel championship, and that is absolutely the number one goal for our team for this year,” Kalitta said.
“There’s a lot of great-running cars so you have to definitely take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Each round win is very critical. We’d love to start the year out with a win to hit the ground running and then just settle in and hope you’re in contention to win as often as you can. It’s all about this team effort that we’ve got going on and the comradery amongst ourselves to build the best team and do the best we can at every race.”
FIFTH THIRD BANK, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS SIGN MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION
YPSILANTI, MI – A long-time partner of both Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports, Fifth Third Bank, National Association, signed a multi-
year contract extension and will be a team partner through the 2026 NHRA season, the team announced today.
With its branding prominently displayed on all three Kalitta Motorsports entries driven by Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd, Fifth Third Bank will begin its fourth year of Kalitta partnership when the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series begins at the historic NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 9-12, 2023.
“We are excited to extend our sponsorship of Kalitta Motorsports and continue to support this dynamic, top-notch racing team and organization,” said David Girodat, regional president, Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan. “This strategic partnership with Kalitta also solidifies Fifth Third’s commitment to motorsports as the leading financial institution in racing.”
KALITTA MOTORSPORTS, REVCHEM COMPOSITES EXTEND TECHNOLOGY AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAMS
YPSILANTI, MI – After three seasons of a successful relationship and a contract extension, Revchem Composites and Kalitta Motorsports will 
begin their fourth season of partnership when the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series begins at the historic NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 9-12, 2023.
Revchem will focus on expanding its brand and business relationships through Kalitta Motorsports; its increased branding is prominently displayed across all three Kalitta Motorsports entries driven by Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, and J.R. Todd.
“We are very excited to begin our fourth season supporting Kalitta Motorsports and are confident 2023 will be a winning year for both Kalitta Motorsports and Revchem Composites! The commitment to teamwork within Kalitta Motorsports is truly an inspiration,” said Pete Pendleton, President of Revchem Composites.
“The Kalitta Motorsports VIP experience is second to none, and we have brought our staff, customers and vendor partners together in the hospitality area to see first-hand what it takes to make a great race team! The time spent with our customers and vendor partners has helped build lasting friendships that we cherish.”
KALITTA MOTORSPORTS RETAINS 3-G SPORTS, ROB GOODMAN, TO MANAGE CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
YPSILANTI, MI – Kalitta Motorsports’ corporate communications and media relations will be managed by 3-G Sports and its founder, Rob 
Goodman, in 2023, the team announced today. The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season begins March 10-12, 2023 in Gainesville, Fla.
Kaitta Motorsports, the only NHRA client on the 3-G Sports roster, fields Top Fuel dragsters driven by Doug Kalitta and 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon and a Funny Car driven by 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd.
Goodman is a media relations veteran with extensive NHRA experience. Most recently, he served as the media relations director for Alan Johnson Racing from 2009-’15. Prior to founding 3-G Sports in 2004, he worked in Sports Marketing at R.J. Reynolds as the manager of media relations for what was then the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Goodman was recently appointed to the National Sports Media Association board of directors.
Kalitta Motorsports and DHL Donate 750,000 Meals to Feeding America with Drive For Purpose Challenge
YPSILANTI, MI – During four races of the NHRA Countdown in the months of September and October, Kalitta Motorsports along with long-
time sponsor DHL donated 750,000 meals to Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States, to help race to end food insecurity with the ‘Drive For Purpose Challenge.’
The ‘Drive for Purpose’ charitable program, which exceeded its original goal of 500,000 meals, was based on win lights recorded by Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd at the Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, the Texas Fall Nationals in Dallas and finally, the Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas — along with fan and corporate donations. A check presentation was conducted Tuesday, December 6, at the Feeding America Chicago office with Langdon, Todd, Bob Lawson and Luke Fath from Kalitta Motorsports, as well as DHL Executives Geoff Walsh, VP and GM of the Midwest U.S. Area and Nemer Abohasen, VP and GM of the Southeast U.S. Area.
“We are thrilled we received support from our NHRA fans, some of our sponsors and most of all the success on the track by Doug, Shawn and J.R. to support Feeding America and the Drive For Purpose Challenge,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager. “We were in the middle of our playoffs racing for the Top Fuel and Funny Car world championships, so drawing more attention to Feeding America by winning rounds on Sunday was awesome all the way around. DHL is a great marketing partner that not only has a great B2B relationship with our organization, but they do an amazing job supporting causes that are important to us and our fans.”
J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota Funny Car Battle in Pomona
Pomona, CA – J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team were looking for their eleventh career Funny Car national event 
win and second win at the Auto Club Finals this weekend. In a very quick Funny Car field Todd narrowly missed starting from the top half of the field with best run of 3.895 seconds during the Friday and Saturday sessions. Todd entered race day as the No. 9 qualifier and a race against No. 8 qualifier veteran Tim Wilkerson.
Todd got a huge jump off the starting line with a stellar .035 reaction time that pushed his DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car out front. As Todd was charging down his lane his Funny Car smoked the tires and Wilkerson was beside him on a smooth and quick run. Wilkerson made his quickest pass, 3.878 seconds of the weekend for the first round win.
“I felt good about coming into race day and we got a great jump off the starting line,” said Todd. “We didn’t have the race or season we wanted but no one is going to work harder this off-season than me and this DHL Toyota team. I have to thank (crew chiefs) Todd Smith, Jon Oberhofer and all my Yella Fella guys for their hard work this weekend and this season.”
Langdon Takes Best Shot at Auto Club Finals
Pomona, CA – Through two days of qualifying at the 57th Auto Club Finals Shawn Langdon and the DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster made 
four qualifying runs looking for a strong combination to bring into race day. Their quickest effort of 3.751 seconds at 324.83 mph was enough to qualify them No. 12 at the final event of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. The 2013 NHRA Top Fuel world champion was looking for his fifth win at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In 2015 and 2013 Langdon took the final win light of the season into the off-season and the veteran driver was hoping to add a third trophy today.
Langdon was paired with No. 5 qualifier Austin Prock in the opening session. The duo of Top Fuel specialist had never faced each other in eliminations and the match-up would pit two of the best drivers off the starting line against each other. Langdon was first off the starting line with a strong .051 reaction time but his DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster raced into tire smoke, Langdon tried to regain the lost momentum but Prock was on a smooth pass and made the second quickest pass of the session for the win light.
“This season was tough, but we never gave up and I know we will get better over the off-season,” said Langdon. “We hosted a great group of veterans on Friday with our sponsor Clean Harbors. It was great to show off our operation and our DHL team to those men and women. We made some strides this season and this DHL Toyota team will be ready for the 2023 season.”
Doug Kalitta Wraps Up Top Ten Season at Pomona
Pomona, CA – Racing for his seventh Top Fuel title at Auto Club Raceway Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster came 
into race day at the No. 6 qualifier. Through two days of qualifying Kalitta made his quickest run a strong 3.693 second pass and was looking to close out his season at one of his favorite race tracks. Throughout his career Kalitta has won the Auto Club Finals twice and the season opening Winternationals four times. As the No. 6 qualifier Kalitta took advantage of the 3.693 second qualifying run to secure lane choice over Josh Hart
Today Kalitta was matched up with Hart who he had a 2-1 head-to-head record against. As the higher seeded team the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel team selected the right lane. Both cars took off and as they approached half track Hart was able to get out in front of Kalitta who lost traction but executed a near perfect pedal effort to keep his Mac Tools dragster accelerating down track. Hart also had his hands full, but he was able to hold off a charging Kalitta to advance to the quarterfinals.
“I think a lot of teams were fooled by the track conditions this morning,” said Kalitta. “I was ready for a long day and when I had to give my Mac Tools dragster a pedal, I was just hoping it would hook back up. This Mac Tools team battled all weekend and I am very proud of all my guys.”
CMR CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING AND KALITTA MOTORSPORTS EXTEND MAJOR PROGRAM INTO 2023
YPSILANTI, MI – After two successful seasons with Kalitta Motorsports CMR Construction and Roofing will continue their marketing 
relationship with the multi-time world championship team throughout the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Heading into the next season CMR Construction and Roofing will be the primary sponsor on Shawn Langdon’s Toyota Top Fuel dragster for four NHRA national events with additional exposure at the prestigious U.S. Nationals. CMR will adorn Langdon’s 11,000-horsepower race car as primary sponsor at national events in Gainesville, the first Las Vegas race, Brainerd, and Dallas in addition to co-primary sponsor at Indianapolis. Doug Kalitta will campaign a CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster at the first race of the 2023 NHRA Countdown contested at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.
“CMR Construction & Roofing has been one of our most successful marketing relationships,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager. “Steve Soule and his marketing team have maximized their on-track and off-track opportunities with Shawn, J.R. Todd and Doug Kalitta. Together we have worked together with CMR to take advantage of every opportunity to network with our sponsors and NHRA partners. They have seen positive results and we are looking forward to expanding those opportunities into 2023.”
J.R. Todd and DHL Looking To Grab Another Pomona Win
Pomona, CA – The DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car and driver J.R. Todd are sitting in sixth place in the Funny Car point standings heading 
into this weekend’s NHRA Auto Club Finals. While a second championship is out of reach Todd knows he can play the role of spoiler and pick up a second win at the season finale race. During his championship season of 2018 Todd not only clinched the championship on the final day of the season he led his DHL Toyota team to victory. Winning the final race of the season this year will give the 10-time Funny Car national event winner confidence and momentum heading into 2023.
“You always want to win the last race of the season no matter where you are in the point standings,” said Todd. “There are sponsor appearances and shows over the winter and it is cool to be able to say you won your last race. Pomona is a cool track with so much history. Every driver wants to win there as much as possible.”
This season Todd has been breaking in a brand-new Toyota GR Supra Funny Car body and as the year has unfolded Todd has made impressive strides racing to the final round at the Northwest Nationals and consistently landing in the Top Five in points. The fact that there are 30 points per round available and Todd’s Funny Car has been running well in qualifying could give the driver who has national event wins in Top Fuel and Funny Car an edge to move up before the end of the season. Two weeks ago at the Nevada Nationals Todd secured his best qualifying position of the season, heading into race day as the No. 4 qualifier, and racing to the semifinals for the fourth time this season.
