Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster Defeat Brown Before Exit in Semi-Final Round

North Dinwiddie, VA – Doug Kalitta was the No. 7 qualifier at the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the last of three qualifying rounds Saturday afternoon when Kalitta reached the finish line in 3.905 seconds at 327.43 mph.

Eliminations: Kalitta defeated reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown and Clay Millican before losing to Justin Ashley when the Mac Tools dragster smoked the tires in the semifinals.

When Kalitta advanced to the semifinals, he earned a spot in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge next week in Norwalk, Ohio. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in Richmond will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.

Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Richmond in fourth place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails third-place Justin Ashley by 22 points and leads fifth-place Antron Brown by 17 points.

Kalitta on Richmond: “We were actually running pretty consistently, but in the semifinal, the thing got away from us and smoked the tires. It was a little early; Justin was having trouble as well, but he was further down the track so I couldn’t catch him. The Mac Tools Toyota team had the car running well, and I thought we had a shot today. We’ll drag it over to Norwalk and try it again next weekend.”

Doug Kalitta Photo Courtesy: NHRA