Post-Race Report
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
Race 6 of 22 national events
zMax Dragway
Concord, NC
May 1, 2022
Kalitta Races Autodesk Top Fuel to Second Round at Four-Wide Nationals
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.700 sec., 327.43 mph)
Bonus points: +2 (2nd quickest of Q3)
Racing for his first four-wide nationals event title Doug Kalitta and the Autodesk Toyota Top Fuel dragster were confident heading into race day. Over two days of qualifying at the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals Kalitta made consistent and quick runs in all four lanes at zMax Dragway. During the third qualifying session on Saturday Kalitta, a 49-time winner, posted the second quickest time of qualifying and earned two additional bonus points. The run was critical for the team considering it was closest to the race day conditions the team would see on Sunday.Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.700 sec., 327.43 mph)
Bonus points: +2 (2nd quickest of Q3)
In the opening session racing from lane four in the first quad Kalitta and his Autodesk 11,000-horsepower land rocket launched hard and never trailed once he moved beyond the Christmas Tree. Kalitta posted the quickest elapsed time of the first round for Top Fuel with his winning time of 3.725 seconds at 327.19 mph. Kalitta was followed across the finish line by Mike Salinas, Alex Laughlin and Doug Foley.
In the second round quad the No. 4 qualifier Kalitta was once again in lane four. His Autodesk race car was charging down the track but as it approached half-track it overpowered the track surface losing momentum. The veteran driver was forced to watch as two of his opponents reached the finish line first.
“We got a big round win in that first round and we just missed it a little in the season round,” said Kalitta. “This Autodesk Top Fuel dragster had me confident and we definitely showed we can run with anyone. We will get ready for Richmond in a couple weeks. I love racing in Charlotte and we had a great weekend with a ton of our guests in our hospitality. It was great to talk with so many people from Autodesk, Mac Tools, DHL and all of our sponsors.”
Kalitta will head to the Virginia Nationals solidly in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten.
Quick Runs and Strong Opening Peformance Power Todd and DHL Toyota in Charlotte
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.893 sec., 330.63 mph)
Bonus points: 0
On the heels of a semifinal finish last week in Houston J.R. Todd took the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car continued to make performance strides this weekend at zMax Dragway. Todd gained valuable information during the four qualifying sessions and entered race day in the top half of the fifteen-car field as the No. 6 qualifier. Todd’s quickest qualifying effort of 3.893 seconds gave the 10-time Funny Car winner confidence that his DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car was moving in the right direction.Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.893 sec., 330.63 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Todd took his first win light of the day with a quick win over second place finisher Ron Capps, Chad Green and Dale Creasy Jr. His winning time of 3.892 seconds was his best effort of the weekend.
“We’ve just been struggling for whatever reason and stupid little things happen and some things are out of our control, but nonetheless, don’t worry about the past,” said Todd. “We’re looking into the future. It would be a good day to win here at zMax for Toyota Gazoo Racing North America, DHL, CMR and all of our sponsors that are here this weekend. I was ready and I was third off the line and I thought I wasn’t that late. It’s tough out here right now in Funny Car.”
In the second quad of the day Todd was joined by No. 2 qualifier Matt Hagan, Capps (No. 3) and No. 15 qualifier Mike McIntire. As soon as Todd hit the throttle his race car went into immediate tire smoke and the 2018 Funny Car world champion could only watch as Hagan smoked the tires in front of him. Capps and McIntire drove to the final foursome. The positive momentum from the weekend’s first round win will be evaluated and built upon and the DHL team moves forward in two weeks during the Virginia Nationals.
Todd will leave Charlotte sitting No. 6 in the Camping World Drag Racing Series point standings less than three rounds out of the top five.
Momentum Building for Langdon and CMR Top Fuel as They Head to Virginia
Statistics:
Qualified: Qual. 14 (3.798 sec, 322.50 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Shawn Langdon and the CMR Construction and Roofing Toyota Top Fuel dragster continued to work towards qualifying and race day consistency this weekend at the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals. The 2013 Top Fuel world champion took full advantage of all four qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday. When the two sessions wrapped up Langdon was the No. 14 qualifier and set up to race in an opening quad with reigning Top Fuel champion and Toyota teammate Steve Torrence along with Josh Hart and veteran Clay Millican.Statistics:
Qualified: Qual. 14 (3.798 sec, 322.50 mph)
Bonus points: 0
All four dragsters staged in the choreographed fashion without issue and the CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster rolled into lane one. Langdon was quick off the line but as his 11,000-horsepower race car accelerated his Goodyear slicks began to haze. The 2019 Funny Car four-wide champion could not catch up and cruised across eth finish line with a 4.028 second at 225 mph pass.
“This wasn’t the weekend we were looking for but there are some positives we can take with us to Richmond,” said Langdon. “We are figuring a few things out and I know we are on the right track. This CMR Construction and Roofing dragster will get more chances to get into the winner’s circle later this season.”
Unofficial NHRA Camping World Championship Standings:
Top Fuel
Top Fuel
| 1 | Brittany Force | 478 |
| 2 | Mike Salinas | 461 |
| 3 | Justin Ashley | 432 |
| 4 | Steve Torrence | 427 |
| 5 | Clay Millican | 328 |
| 6 | Josh Hart | 294 |
| 7 | Austin Prock | 288 |
| 8 | Doug Kalitta | 263 |
| 9 | Tony Schumacher | 243 |
| 10 | Antron Brown | 230 |
| 11 | Doug Foley | 218 |
| 12 | Shawn Langdon | 216 |
Funny Car
| 1 | Matt Hagan | 567 |
| 2 | Robert Hight | 545 |
| 3 | Ron Capps | 501 |
| 4 | John Force | 375 |
| 5 | Cruz Pedregon | 340 |
| 6 | J.R. Todd | 295 |
| 7 | Bob Tasca III | 283 |
| 8 | Alexis DeJoria | 273 |
| 9 | Chad Green | 269 |
| 10 | Tim Wilkerson | 244 |
About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Camping World Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. Celebrating over 60 years of Kalitta Motorsports, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with seven world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
