Determined Doug Kalitta Seeks Another Arizona Nationals Victory

Phoenix, AZ – After a year away from Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park the 2020 Top Fuel runner-up Doug Kalitta is ready to get back to the Phoenix area race track. The Mac Tools Top Fuel team tested at Wild Horse two weeks ago and made significant improvements on their performance every day. Last weekend the team used that information to qualify No. 5 at the season opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. With new crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen on board this season Kalitta is brimming with confidence as he chases his 50th Top Fuel victory and first Top Fuel world championship driving the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster.

“Getting to work with Alan and Brian is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Kalitta. “I have so much respect for those guys and I know we will do some great things together this season. This Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel team is ready to get after it and we made some really good passes in testing a few weeks ago.”

The last time Kalitta and the NHRA Top Fuel class raced in Arizona the Mac Tools team was coming into the event on the heels of a season opening win and they raced to another final from the No. 8 qualifier position. Kalitta outran Shawn Reed, Brittany Force and Antron Brown that day before taking runner-up honors. The 49-time Top Fuel winner grabbed one of his early career wins at the Arizona Nationals in 2001 and since that win he has raced to four more finals. He has also collected three No. 1 qualifiers most recently the 2016 NHRA Arizona Nationals.

“We have made a lot of good runs at the Arizona Nationals,” said Kalitta. “It is just great to get the season started with back-to-back events to get back in that racing groove. It doesn’t take too many passes to get comfortable. This race car drives like a dream. It is so smooth. I know Alan and Brian will have it ready to go this weekend.”

Last season Kalitta raced to two final rounds and wrapped up the season with another Top Ten finish in the point standings for the 24th consecutive season. Kalitta also celebrated 20 years with long time sponsor Mac Tools and the familiar red, white and black dragster will be back on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. The consistency of the sponsor and the crew who meticulously build and rebuild Kalitta’s 11,000 horsepower land rocket will hopefully prove to be the magic bullet for success in 2022.

“This Mac Tool dragster is a newer race car so everything is pretty much in the same place,” said Kalitta. “It is a comfortable race car and it drives really well. The guys have done an incredible job getting us ready for a successful season. The start of the season is always an exciting time and I am looking forward to a great season for our Mac Tools team.”

2020 NHRA Arizona Nationals Highlights (event not contested in 2021): RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 8, Beat Shawn Reed, Brittany Force, Antron Brown; Lost to Steve Torrence

Last Event Recap (2022 Winternationals): Winternationals: Qual 5; Lost to Tony Schumacher

Career Stats: 545 events, 538 starts, 723 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 50 No. 1 qualifiers

2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual 5; Lost to Tony Schumacher