Kalitta Motorsports
J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota Camry Wrap up 2021 With Top Ten Finish
Pomona, CA – On the day the brand new Toyota GR Supra Funny Car was announced for the 2022 NHRA season 2018 NHRA Funny Car 
champion J.R. Todd was racing his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for the last time. On Saturday Todd powered his Funny Car to the No. 8 qualifying position on the strength of his final qualifying run which was the fourth quickest of the session and set him up for success on race day. Todd opened the season with a win at the Gatornationals and grabbed three additional runner-up finishes.
In the first round today racing veteran driver Bob Tasca III Todd had lane choice and rolled into the right lane. The last time Todd raced at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona he raced to the final round. It was the July edition of the Winternationals and Todd took three win lights from the No. 7 qualifying position. This morning in the first round Todd and Tasca left the starting line together and Todd was pulling away for victory as the race cars crossed half-track when his DHL Toyota lost traction. Todd tried to pedal his 11,000 horsepower Funny Car he was unable to reel in Tasca.
“We gave it a good ride in the first round but it was just a little too much,” said Todd. “Drag racing is unforgiving and we just came up short on that run. We were in a lot of finals this season and got that win at the Gatornationals. We are going to take all the positives from today and this season into the off-season. I can’t wait to bring that GR Supra to the Winternationals.”
Doug Kalitta Closes Season with Quarterfinal Finish at Pomona
Pomona, CA – Veteran Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster team were looking to close out their 20th season together with a 
win at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Through two days of qualifying on Friday and Saturday Kalitta rolled into race day as the No. 10 qualifier and a first round race with rookie Josh Hart. Kalitta’s best qualifying effort of 3.757 seconds at 321.65 mph had the 49-time winner ready for race day.
Facing one of the rising stars in the sport Kalitta and his team rose to the occasion in the opening session. Both dragsters left together but it was Kalitta who had the run to win hitting the finish line stripe with a winning time of 3.709 seconds at 327.66 mph. Kalitta was out in front for most of the race and took the win to advance to the quarterfinals
In the quarterfinals Kalitta matched up with Steve Torrence looking to advance to his third semifinal of the season. Kalitta and the Mac Tools dragster launched off the starting line and was charging down his lane when just past half-track his dragster lost traction. Kalitta regained control almost immediately and was working to chase down Torrence who also had a traction issue. He was unable to get his second win light of the day and closed the NHRA Finals with a quarterfinal finish.
Toyota Unveils the New GR Supra Funny Car in NHRA
POMONA, CA – This morning at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Toyota unveiled its new race car for the 2022 NHRA season in Funny Car 
competition. For the first time, Toyota will campaign the GR Supra beginning with the season kickoff event in Pomona in February.
Toyota has competed with the Camry in Funny Car competition dating back to 2012. Prior to the Camry, the Toyota Celica and Toyota Solara were run. The 2021 season has marked the 20th anniversary of Toyota’s official involvement in NHRA with competitors in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Toyota’s commitment to race vehicles that closely resemble production vehicles continues with this GR Supra. With the new body on the Funny Car for 2022, it marks the most significant styling characteristics of any previous Funny Car.
“After 10 years of fielding the Camry in NHRA Funny Car competition it’s really exciting for us to be moving to the GR Supra and ultimately the next generation of Funny Cars for NHRA,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager of motorsports for Toyota Motor North America. “Our team at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) along with the design team at Calty worked hard to incorporate as many features from the production GR Supra into the Funny Car that J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria will drive in 2022.”
Strong Finish On Tap for Shawn Langdon and DHL Top Fuel
Pomona, CA – Shawn Langdon will be rolling in Auto Club Raceway at Pomona looking to get one more win light than he did at the season 
opening Gatornationals. The 2013 NHRA Top Fuel world champions opened the season eight months ago with a runner-up finish and this weekend Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel team will be focusing on wrapping up the season with a victory. He will also be looking to collect his third win at the iconic event to add to his 2015 and 2013 wins on the west coast.
“We have had success in Pomona in years past and we would definitely like to close out the season on a high note,” said Langdon. “We have been working really hard all season and we know we have a race car that is capable of winning. I am looking forward to getting to the track and starting to qualify on Friday.”
In addition to his two victories at the Auto Club Finals Langdon has added two runner-up finishes to his ledger in Pomona from 2017 and 2010. The veteran driver also added a No. 1 qualifier in 2012.
Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Looking for More History at NHRA Finals
Pomona, CA – As the 2021 NHRA season comes to a close Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster will be looking to end on a high 
note with a victory at the Auto Club Finals this weekend. Kalitta will be on the hunt for his 50th Top Fuel career victory and his third win at the historic NHRA season finale. The veteran driver has consistently reached the final rounds at the Auto Club Finals including a win the last time the event was contested in Pomona in 2019. Over the past decade Kalitta has raced to the final round at the historic national event four times.
“I love racing at Pomona that is for sure,” said Kalitta. “We were here in July but starting and ending the season at this track is always special. We have had some great races to close out the season. Two years ago, that was a great win, and we would definitely like to end this season on a high note.”
This season Kalitta will extend his streak of Top Ten finishes to 24 consecutive seasons. During his 20th season with primary sponsor Mac Tools Kalitta raced to two final rounds in Las Vegas and Houston. The perennial championship contender battled some of the toughest competition throughout the season.
J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car Striving for Strong Finish at Pomona
Pomona, CA – The DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team and J.R. Todd have a mathematical chance at the 2021 NHRA championship but the 
odds are not in their favor. The Gatornationals winner could close out the season with a bookend win and come up most likely a few rounds short of his second title. In 2018 Todd raced to victory at the Auto Club Finals and clinched his first Funny Car championship and win this year would most likely give him a top three finish in one of the most competitive classes of the series.
“We hurt ourselves in Las Vegas, but we can still finish strong in Pomona,” said Todd. “This championship has been a battle between four or five drivers all season it seems. No one has really dominated. I am proud of everyone on this DHL Toyota Funny Car team because we fought hard all season and it is coming down the to the last race.”
The season-opening win at the historic Gatornationals kept Todd in the championship conversation all year. His runner-up finish at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals combined with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the July Winternationals in Pomona and then Topeka were strong statements headed into the Countdown.
Championship Will Come Down to Pomona for J.R. Todd and DHL Toyota Funny Car
Las Vegas – The DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and driver J.R. Todd are in the middle of the 2021 NHRA Funny Car battle and today’s Las 
Vegas Nationals was a chance for the 2018 Funny Car world champion to close the gap from the No. 3 position in the points. In a wild first round Todd was upset along with the drivers sitting in the No. 1 and No.4 positions. Heading to the final race of the season Todd will have an outside shot at the championship.
During the two days of qualifying from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Todd posted solid runs including a stellar 3.905 second pass at 327.03 mph which was the quickest run of the second session, good enough for three bonus points, and the No. 3 qualifier position. Todd also posted the third quickest run of the first session to show that his performance levels were top of the category.
On race day Todd drew veteran Paul Lee in the first round with lane choice and confidence on the heels of his final round appearance from the Thunder Valley Nationals two weeks ago. When Todd hit the throttle his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, he was side by side with his opponent. As the finish line closed in Todd’s Goodyear tires surprisingly lost traction and slowed his momentum allowing Lee to dart around him at the finish line for an upset win.
Strong Effort Not Enough at Las Vegas Nationals for Doug Kalitta
Las Vegas – Doug Kalitta and the red and white Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster were racing for their third win at the NHRA Las Vegas National 
today from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For twenty seasons Mac Tools and Kalitta have been racing and winning and today the veteran driver was looking for his 50th career Top Fuel victory.
After three qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday Kalitta rolled into race day as the No. 13 qualifier in a tight Top Fuel field. The perennial championship contender was facing another Countdown qualified Top Fuel dragster driven by Bristol winner and eventual Las Vegas Nationals runner-up Mike Salinas.
In the opening session Kalitta launched off the starting line side by side with Salinas and both racecars were welded together as they accelerated down track. As the finish line approached Kalitta’s 11,000 horsepower Mac Tools machine was hitting on all eight cylinders. At the stripe it was Salinas getting the win light with a slightly quicker 3.726 second pass against Kalitta’s 3.735 second run.
Shawn Langdon and CMR Construction and Roofing Battle in Las Vegas
Las Vegas – Racing the CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster Shawn Langdon entered race day at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals 
as the No. 12 qualifier after two days at the track. The 2013 Top Fuel champion was looking to race to his first win at the fall classic from Bruton Smith’s The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In the first round facing fellow Countdown competitor Billy Torrence Langdon was looking for a long race day at the next two last race of the season. In an impressive display of driving skill Langdon jumped off the starting line with a .049 second reaction time giving his CMR Construction and Roofing a solid lead for most of the race. As both 11,000 horsepower dragsters flew to the finish line Langdon’s opponent got around him by. 0001 of a second in the closest race of the event. It was a photo finish that ended Langdon’s bid for victory.
Langdon’s first round elapsed time was an improvement from his qualifying time but not enough to advance to the quarterfinals. With one race remaining in the season Langdon and the CMR Construction and Roofing team will revert to their traditional DHL Kalitta Air look for the NHRA Finals in Pomona.
Third Las Vegas Nationals Win on the Table for Mac Tools Top Fuel and Doug Kalitta
Las Vegas – Doug Kalitta is closing in on the end of his incredible 20th season with primary sponsor Mac Tools as the NHRA Las Vegas 
Nationals from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway fire up this weekend. The 49-time Top Fuel winner collected two of those wins during this race when he took home the trophy in 2015 and 2004. This weekend Kalitta and the familiar red and white Top Fuel dragster will be looking for a third win at the desert fall classic from Bruton Smith’s impressive facility which hosts two NHRA national events annually.
“We have gotten a couple wins at the fall race and we would definitely like to get that third win at The Strip this weekend,” said Kalitta. “We have been battling all season and have come close a couple times. I know we have what it takes to get four win lights on Sunday we just need to make it happen.”
The perennial championship contender will not earn his first Top Fuel world championship this year but his success on the track for primary sponsor Mac Tools over the past 20 years cannot be diminished by another solid top ten finish. In addition to his two wins at the Las Vegas Nationals he also has a runner-up to his credit from 2007.
