Kalitta Starts Quest for Top Fuel Championship at Maple Grove Raceway

Reading, PA – The regular season has ended and starting this weekend there are seven races to determine the 2021 NHRA Camping World Top Fuel world champion. Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel team will be one of the ten racers vying for the championship starting with qualifying this Friday at Maple Grove Raceway. The NHRA Reading Nationals will provide the 49-time Top Fuel winner his first opportunity to chip into the Top Fuel point lead and move up the standings.

“We have some work cut out for us, but luckily we have an extra race in this Countdown, so we have seven instead of six races,” said Kalitta, referring to the addition of the national event in Bristol in mid-October. “This Mac Tools team will be ready for Reading and the last time we raced there we went to the final against a teammate. That is a fast track and I think there is an opportunity for us to pick up some qualifying bonus points, too.”

Last weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals rain washed out a full day of qualifying but not before Kalitta and his Mac Tools team could post the third quickest qualifying time on Friday night. The loss of two sessions set every team back but Kalitta was able to make a strong run in the opening round outrunning rookie Krista Baldwin. In a wild quarterfinal race Kalitta and Billy Torrence traded the lead multiple times as each driver pedaled his 11,000-horsepower race car but it was Torrence who got to the finish line first. Two years before that run it was Kalitta out driving Torrence for the U.S. Nationals victory.

“That was a tough race and I thought I was going to be able to hold on for the win,” said Kalitta. “The track was tricky in the early rounds. I think if we get three qualifying sessions in Reading will be good to go to race against anyone.”

This season Kalitta has raced to two runner-up finishes and a handful of quarterfinals. In each of the four-wide national events Kalitta showed his driving skill winning rounds and advancing to the final quad in Las Vegas. His performance at the Houston SpringNationals showed how strong the Mac Tools team can be on race day. Since that runner-up finish Kalitta has shown flashes of consistency and is heading to tracks where he has a history of success. The perennial championship contender is not worried about his Countdown seeding knowing that the only things that matters is having a chance for the championship on the last race of the season.

“Nothing is ever guaranteed in this sport,” said Kalitta, who won the Reading national event in 2002. “I have won from just about every qualifying position and I feel really good about this Mac Tools team. If we can get off to a strong start in Reading, then we will look at the next race in Charlotte. Right now, our focus is on winning the race at Maple Grove Raceway.”

Qualifying will begin Friday afternoon with two rounds of qualifying on Saturday. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday.

2019 NHRA Reading Nationals Highlights (event not contested in 2020):  RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 3; Beat Smax Smith, Mike Salinas, Austin Prock; Lost to Richie Crampton

Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA U.S. Nationals): Qual. No. 3; Beat Krista Baldwin; Lost to Billy Torrence

Career Stats: 537 events, 530 starts, 722 round wins, 49 wins, 107 finals, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
2021 Season:
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 4; Beat Arthur Allen; Lost to Justin Ashley
Las Vegas1: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 3; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey, Beat Shawn Langdon and Leah Pruett; Lost to Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Antron Brown
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 12; Beat Josh Hart, Billy Torrence, Kyle Wurtzel; Lost to Brittany Force, Josh Hart
Houston: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 9; Beat Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon; Lost to Steve Torrence
Epping: Qual. No. 5; Beat Shawn Langdon, Lost to Mike Salinas
Norwalk: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown
Denver: Qual. No. 4; Lost to Leah Pruett
Sonoma: Qual. No. 8; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Pomona1: Qual. No. 6; Lost to Clay Millican
Topeka: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 9; Lost to Clay Millican
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 3; Beat Krista Baldwin; Lost to Billy Torrence