Mac Tools and Doug Kalitta Race to Quarterfinals in Charlotte

Charlotte, NC – The Mac Tools Top Fuel team rolled into Sunday’s race day looking to go rounds and step up their on their qualifying effort. Doug Kalitta was looking for his first four-wide win at the 11th NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. The perennial championship contender won at zMAX Dragway’s fall race in 2017 and he was looking to capture his 50th career Top Fuel victory.

The first quad of racing for Kalitta included the Mac Tools dragster, along with rookie Josh Hart, veteran Billy Torrence and Kyle Wurtzel. It was an impressive first round victory for the Mac Tools dragster as it got to the finish line first with a strong 3.726 second run at 326.08 mph.

“That first round win was a great run for this Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster,” said Kalitta. “(Crew chief) Rob (Flynn) and the guys really stepped it up to get that win. I felt good going into the second round and we just overpowered the track I think. We are going to run the car tomorrow and get a little better handle on it. We will be at it in Houston next weekend and I am ready to get after it.”

The second round quad saw Kalitta joined by Brittany Force, Hart and veteran Clay Millican. Prior to the run Millican bowed out of the quad due to a starting line issue and a trio of dragsters rolled to the starting line. When the tree fired Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster leapt off the line and was welded beside Hart’s race car. As the pair approached half-track Kalitta’s dragster fell back and slowed to 4.468 seconds. The quarterfinal finished capped his day at the race track.

The Mac Tools team will stay and test on Monday before heading to Houston Raceway Park. Kalitta remains solidly in the NHRA Top Fuel top ten in seventh place.

Quotable:
Doug Kalitta on spending time Saturday with Camden Nobles from A Kid Again: “Camden is a great kid and I am glad we were able to show his family a good time on Saturday. He is going through a tough time and everyone at Kalitta Motorsports was glad to give him a day of memories from the race.”

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 12 (3.832 sec., 317.42 mph)
Bonus points: 0

Race Details:

First Round
Driver                                    Qual       R/T         ET           MPH
Doug Kalitta                       12           .068        3.726     326.08 (W)
Josh Hart                             4              .058        3.744     327.66 (W)
Billy Torrence                       5              .079        3.751     328.62
Kyle Wurtzel                      13           .076        3.898     312.06

Second Round
Driver                                    Qual       R/T         ET           MPH
Doug Kalitta                       12           .069        4.468     179.83
Josh Hart                             4              .021        3.810     308.99 (W)
Brittany Force                    1              .102        3.736     328.38 (W)
Clay Millican                       9              Broke – No Time