Doug Kalitta Makes Strides with Applied Imaging at Norwalk Nationals

Norwalk, OH – In one of the closest races of the first round of the NHRA Norwalk Nationals Doug Kalitta and his Applied Imaging Top Fuel dragster came up one car length short of advancing to the quarterfinals. After two tough days of qualifying the team made their best pass of the weekend in the opening round of eliminations. The 2015 Top Fuel winner was looking to win the Norwalk Nationals for the second time at “America’s Racetrack,” Summit Motorsports Park.

On Saturday the team made two qualifying passes and rolled into race day as the No. 11 qualifier. The Applied Imaging team worked overnight on improving their performance for race day. Their efforts were rewarded with a much improved 3.855 second run at 312.35 mph.

In spite of Kalitta’s improved performance Antron Brown also stepped up and got the win. Kalitta’s race car dropped a cylinder as it was passing half-track robbing the Applied Imaging Top Fuel dragster of critical horsepower.

“We were excited to be representing Applied Imaging again at the Norwalk Nationals,” said Kalitta. “Today just didn’t go our day and really we battled through two days of qualifying as well. I have a lot of confidence in this team and we will get it figured out. There are races coming up where we have won a lot of races and we will get back to our winning ways, I know it.”

Kalitta will head into the break leading up to the historic Western Swing solidly in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten. The perennial championship contender will return to his traditional red and white Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster for the remainder of the regular season.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 11 (3.864 sec., 287.41 mph)
Bonus points: 0

Race Details:

First Round
Driver                                    Qual         R/T         ET           MPH
Doug Kalitta                        11             .083        3.855     312.35
Antron Brown                        6              .065        3.767     328.14 (W)