DOUG KALITTA, MAC TOOLS DRAGSTER READY FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT NO. 50

YPSILANTI, MI – Doug Kalitta has been through it before. He knows the highs and lows of a sport that arguably produces more thrills for competitors and spectators alike than just about any other, and he knows hard work will eventually pay off. He and his Mac Tools Toyota team are hoping it will happen this weekend, in front of some of the sport’s most rabid fans. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season continues this weekend with the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 18-20 in Brainerd, Minn.

Another thing Kalitta knows about is the Wally – the trophy given to each NHRA winner. He’s received 49 of them and wants another as soon as possible. With two wins in four final-round appearances at Brainerd International Raceway and a team capable of producing winning performance, it could happen this weekend. Kalitta enters the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals following two final round appearances in the last four races. The trick is posting more of the former less of the latter.

“We’ve definitely had our highs and lows this season,” Kalitta said. “We’ve had some really good races that made everyone at Mac Tools, Toyota, Revchem and all our partners proud, and we’ve had some that weren’t as good. I know Alan, Brian (co-crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen) and all my guys are doing everything they can every day to keep us moving in the right direction, and I’m super proud of them. We just need to get back to winning rounds so the race wins can follow. This Mac Tools team is an awesome group of guys with a great work ethic. That 50th win is out there – we just have to go get it.”

Race Information:

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.

TV Schedule:

Qualifying Show No. 1: 8-9:30 p.m. eastern Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 on FS1.
Qualifying Show No. 2: 1-2 p.m. eastern Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 on FS1.
Finals: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 on FOX.

2022 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified 10th; lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round.

Career Stats: 579 events, 750 round wins, 49 wins, 109 final rounds, 52 No. 1 qualifiers

2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:

Gatornationals: Qualified third; defeated Spencer Massey, Antron Brown; lost to Steve Torrence

Phoenix: Qualified No. 1; defeated Rob Passey, lost to Shawn Langdon.

Pomona: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown in the first round.

Las Vegas: Qualified 10th; lost to Steve Torrence and Josh Hart in the first round.

Charlotte: Qualified No. 6, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.

Chicago: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel, lost to Clay Millican.

Epping: Qualified 12th; lost to Leah Pruett.

Bristol: Qualified No. 6; defeated Clay Millican and Steve Torrence before lost to Antron Brown.

Norwalk: Qualified No. 4; lost to Dan Mercier in the first round.

Denver: Qualified No. 2; defeated Terry Totten, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence before losing to Clay Millican in the final round.

Seattle: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ron Smith, had a second-round bye and defeated Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence when the Mac Tools Toyota dragster smoked the tires during the final-round run.

Sonoma: Qualified No. 8; lost to Justin Ashley in the first round.

Topeka: Qualified No. 3; lost to Austin Prock in the first round.

Current Point Standings: Kalitta enters Brainerd in seventh place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails sixth-place Austin Prock by 56 points and leads eighth-place Mike Salinas by 22 points.