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Kalitta Motorsports

Doug Kalitta Heads To Houston In Championship Battle 

Ennis, TX – Exiting the 35th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster team are right in the thick of the NHRA Camping World championship battle. After a day of qualifying on Saturday, Kalitta entered the race as the No. 7 qualifier, with a tough first opponent, fellow championship contender Antron Brown. It was a critical round for Kalitta to take out a Top Fuel pursuer and advance the Mac Tools dragster to the quarterfinals.

Both dragsters launcher together and Kalitta pulled away as he closed in on half-track. He made his quickest pass of the weekend for the win, a blistering 3.713 seconds at 328.38 mph.

In the quarterfinals Kalitta took a starting line advantage from Rookie of the Year contender Justin Ashley and never trailed in the race winning with a time of 3.723 seconds at 328.46 mph. It was back to back low 3.7 second runs and it set up a monster semifinal race with Billy Torrence of Torrence Racing.

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Langdon and DHL Top Fuel Dragster Targeting Texas Motorplex for Victory

Ennis, TX – Shawn Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster are going to use the final three races of the Camping World Drag Racing Series to move up as high as possible in the points and also work to protect teammate Doug Kalitta’s chances of winning his first Top Fuel world championship. Entering the 35th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Langdon has a longshot at challenging his teammate for the top spot in Top Fuel. He is sitting in 8th place but only one round out of 5th. A top three finish is not out of the question based on the strength of his DHL Top Fuel team’s recent performance.

“We have been running really well,” said Langdon. “St. Louis was a race you can throw out the window because conditions were so crazy for everyone. I am glad Doug got the win there and they definitely earned it. It was tough to race him in the first round but I felt whoever won that round was going to win the race.”

Over Labor Day weekend Langdon got back in the Top Fuel win column by winning the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals. The win kept a Kalitta Motorsports streak alive with either a Funny Car or Top Fuel dragster winning the event the past four years. After two years behind the wheel of a Funny Car Langdon was glad to get a win in a dragster this season.

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Todd and DHL Toyota Camry Looking to Start Texas Two Step with Win

Ennis, TX – J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team will be looking to join an elite list with a win at the 35th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals this weekend. A Funny Car win would add Todd’s name to an exclusive list of Top Fuel and Funny Car winners at the historic Fall NHRA national event at the Texas Motorplex. Pairing a Funny Car win with his 2008 Top Fuel victory would add Todd’s name to a list that includes Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Ed MCulloch, and Mike Dunn.

“You look at the guys that have won both Top Fuel and Funny Car at the FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex and those guys are all Hall of Famers and Legends,” said Todd. “I remember that Top Fuel win in 2008 and I know how close I came to getting that Funny Car win in 2018. I would love to see four win lights this coming Sunday.”

Todd was also a runner-up in Top Fuel in 2014 to go along with two No. 1 qualifiers (2007 and 2014) in Top Fuel.

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FallNationals Success Critical for Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster 

Ennis, TX – Everyone on the Mac Tools team knew the battle for the Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world championship would not be easy. In fact the team and driver Doug Kalitta relish the challenge that these next three national events will afford his veteran team. From the top down every person on the crew knows they will have to bring their “A” game to the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals this weekend at the Texas Motorplex and no matter what happens they will have to be just as ready the next week when the team heads to Houston.

“We are ready for these next three races,” said Kalitta. “The win in St. Louis was a nice boost but these next three weeks will be where we win or lose the championship. We got off of a hot start at the beginning of the season and now I feel like we are in a position to finish the season just as strong.”

Kalitta and the Mac Tools team took the win at the Winternationals and then followed that up with a runner-up in Phoenix. The forced shutdown of the racing season was tough but the team came back at the first event in Indy with another runner-up. Since then the team has been consistent but not dominant until two weeks ago. Kalitta took out teammate Shawn Langdon in the first round and then raced through TJ Zizzo, Tony Schumacher and finally two-time world champions Steve Torrence for the win. The victory has Kalitta in basically a tie for the No. 1 spot just two points from a first place tie.

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Kalitta Announces Ferguson Facilities Supply Entertainment Partnership for 2021

YPSILANTI, MI – Multi-time drag racing world championship winning team Kalitta Motorsports announced today a multi-race entertainment and hospitality partnership with Ferguson Facilities Supply Central District a division of Ferguson, the largest U.S. distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks and fire and fabrication products, which will begin during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. The partnership will include activation at four national events, the Spring Nationals in Houston, the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and the FallNationals in Dallas which are all key markets for the Central District.

“We have been talking through this season with John Morris from Ferguson Facilities Supplies. We are hosting a group this weekend at the Texas Motorplex to get the ball rolling,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager. “They are excited about using our VIP pit side hospitality for their employees and customers. Our goal is to put all our partners in the best position to grow their businesses. Ferguson Facilities Supply is a great addition and we are looking forward to expanding their customer base in the Central District in 2021.”

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Shawn Langdon and DHL Fall to Teammate in First Round

Madison, IL – The DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster and driver Shawn Langdon tried to make the best of a tough situation during the NHRA Midwest Nationals. Racing at World Wide Technology Raceway under dramatically different conditions than the previous week at the Gatornationals in Florida Langdon was looking for his second consecutive win in St. Louis. On the lone Saturday qualifying session Langdon’s DHL Kalitta Air dragster did not make a representative run and Langdon was forced to pedal his dragster to record a top sixteen elapsed time.  His time secured a spot on race day but he was forced to run teammate Doug Kalitta in the first round.

Once again Langdon’s dragster experienced issues on the starting line. As both dragster’s launched Kalitta and the Mac Tools dragster moved off the line without issues but the DHL dragster smoked the tires. Langdon expertly pedaled his race car in the event Kalitta experienced issues he was hoping to chase him down. There was no chance for a comeback as Kalitta blazed down the right lane.

“We just couldn’t get a handle on the track,” said Langdon. “We only got one shot on Saturday and then this morning was just a tough deal. We were ready to race Doug and we are racing for a championship too. You never want to race a teammate early. I am glad he went on to win the race. If you have to beat a teammate you definitely want to go all the way.”

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J.R. Todd and DHL Camry Race to Quarterfinals in St. Louis

Memphis, TN – The DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team continued to battle at World Wide Technology Raceway during the NHRA Midwest Nationals as they chased a second NHRA Funny Car world championship. During Friday’s qualifying session Todd landed in the middle of the field with a 5.801 second run at 184.98 mph as most of the Funny Cars struggled to make impressive runs in the cold temperatures. The 2019 Midwest Nationals Funny Car runner-up qualified No. 7 and faced a tough first round race against veteran Tim Wilkerson.

With lane choice and the confidence of previous success at World Wide Technology Raceway Todd rolled to the starting line with an eye on victory. The DHL Camry took an impressive lead off the starting line and never trailed in the race. Todd’s winning time of 4.641 seconds advanced him to the quarterfinals and a race against fellow Toyota teammate Alexis DeJoria.

The Toyota Funny Car showdown was anti-climactic at the starting line as Todd’s Camry shook right off the starting line. The 2018 Funny Car world champion pedaled his race car and got it to hook back up and began racing towards the finish line. He did not close the gap but as DeJoria was crossing the finish line her Camry experienced a massive incident shredding her carbon fiber race car body. She got the win and Todd was relieved she escaped serious injury.

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Kalitta and Mac Tools Grab Big Win in St. Louis

Madison, IL – Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster team did what they had to do today at World Wide Technology Raceway winning the NHRA Midwest Nationals for the fourth time and defeating their closest rival Steve Torrence in the final. Kalitta entered race day as the No. 5 qualifier but he knew the chance to go rounds was of utmost importance.

“We needed to get some momentum going for the last three races and this is going to do a lot for us for sure,” said Kalitta, a 49-time Top Fuel national event winner. “The conditions were really good and my Mac Tools Toyota guys had my car running really well. I’m real proud of my entire team and Toyota is a big part of making this car run and knowing what the track is doing. Just a big team effort.”

Kalitta had to race teammate Shawn Langdon in the first round and then take out veteran TJ Zizzo in the quarterfinals. In both of those races he lowered his best elapsed time with a 3.731 second pass and then a 3.709 second run, respectively. The Mac Tools dragster continued its dominant ways making a single run in the semifinals when Tony Schumacher’s throttle stuck and he could not make his run. With no one in the other lane Kalitta did not let the chance to get lane choice in the final round slip through his fingers. His solo run elapsed time of 3.711 seconds proved he would have the race car to beat in the final round.

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Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster Look To Dominate in St. Louis

Madison, IL – Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster will be looking for their fourth win at World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals. Kalitta is currently tied with Gary Scelzi in second place on the most Top Fuel wins list at the famed race track in the shadows of the St. Louis skyline. This weekend will be a critical race for Kalitta and the Mac Tools team with only four races remaining and the battle for the Top Fuel Mello Yello world championship tightening up.

“We had a tough weekend in Florida but we put that race behind us and are focusing on St. Louis,” said Kalitta, a 48-time Top Fuel winner. “We have had some good races at this track and we have great data. The weather should be cooler so that will be a big change for all the teams. Florida was one of the hottest races we competed in.”

This year Kalitta started the season with a strong start continuing his winning ways at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. A win at the season opening Winternationals followed by a runner-up finish at the Arizona Nationals had the perennial championship contender in the driver’s seat just as the season was shut down by the pandemic. When the season restarted Kalitta once again raced to the final round but the last four races have seen Kalitta reach just one semifinal.

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Kalitta Motorsports Supports Fight Against Breast Cancer

YPSILANTI, MI – As a multi-time world championship winning team Kalitta Motorsports knows what it means to be in a tough fight. The entire organization understands one of the toughest real life fights is the daily battle millions of Americans face against cancer. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month all three Kalitta Motorsports race cars will add pink to their livery for the NHRA national events contested in October.

“We have lost some brave women in our lives to breast cancer and we wanted to honor them as well as everyone else across the country and world who is dealing with this terrible disease,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager. “The month of October is a busy month for our race team with multiple events across the country. We wanted to help keep this issue in front of people and encourage them to keep fighting as well as support this cause however they can.”

Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster, Shawn Langdon’s DHL/Kalitta Air dragster and J.R. Todd’s DHL Camry Funny Car will also be emblazoned with a pink ribbon featuring the iconic winged “Flying K” logo. All the driver names and car numbers will be pink and the Kalitta Air decal on Todd’s DHL Toyota Camry will be pink. Todd will also be wearing a specially designed pink helmet continuing a tradition he started a number of years ago.

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