Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Team Make Positive Strides at Winternationals

Pomona, CA – Coming into the season opening race Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel team were ready for another championship run. The addition of world champion crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen had Kalitta eager to get the season started. The past five seasons the NHRA season has begun in Pomona, California, Kalitta has raced to the final round and the perennial championship contender has a three-race win streak at the most recent February Winternationals. With a new team this season Kalitta knew he had a good chance of extending that streak.

Through two days of qualifying the Mac Tools dragster continued to improve and entered race day as the No. 5 qualified Top Fuel team in a tough, experienced field. His best time in qualifying was a strong 3.720 second pass at 326.87 mph. As the first round began right before Kalitta made his run there was a lengthy delay to clean the track. The track continued to warm up while Kalitta and his team made adjustments to give the 49-time Top Fuel national event winner the best chance of success.

Kalitta was racing the No. 12 qualifier but from top to bottom the Top Fuel field was stacked with former national event winners and world champions. The Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster made a strong run of 3.730 seconds at 327.11 mph a near duplication of his best qualifying effort, but his opponent was slightly quicker to the finish line and by about 16 feet he was edged out of victory.

“We did a lot of things right this weekend from qualifying to that first round,” said Kalitta. “We made a solid run and just came up a little short at the finish line. This is a long season and we will be back on the track in a couple days in Phoenix.”

Kalitta will leave the NHRA Winternationals sitting No. 9 in the Top Fuel point standings.

Quotable:
Doug Kalitta on season opening Winternationals: “This place just means a lot to me. It is just a cool place to race and start the season. I have been very fortunate to have a good racecar that has gone there and won rounds and races there the last couple of years.”

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 5 (3.720 sec., 326.87 mph)
Bonus points: 0

Race Details:

First Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH
Doug Kalitta               5          .086     3.730   327.11
Tony Schumacher       12        .057     3.726   324.28 (W)