Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Doug Kalitta Mac Tools Top Fueler |
Reports: Monday Sunday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Monday: Mac Tools flagship Top Fuel dragster driver Doug Kalitta drove his 7,000 + horsepower hot rod into the final round Monday at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but was denied his first win at the "Big Go" by Tony Schumacher (4.62 seconds, 316.45 mph to 4.59 sec., 323.66 mph).
Doug remains second in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel championship points behind leader Schumacher.
Doug entered final eliminations as the No. 1 qualifier and defeated Bruce Litton in round one (4.74 sec., 313.15 mph to 7.08 sec., 126.35 mph). In round two, Doug was victorious over Clay Millican (4.65 sec., 315.78 mph to 4.73 sec., 299.86 mph). In the semifinals, Doug put Larry Dixon on the trailer (4.62 sec., 315.78 mph to 4.91 sec., 274.66 mph) to reach his first final round at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
Doug's final round appearance was an amazing seventh consecutive NHRA national event title round showing for Kalitta Motorsports.
Doug's cousin and teammate Scott Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools/Jesse James Top Fuel dragster entered eliminations from the No. 3 qualifying slot. Scott took an opening round victory over Andrew Cowin (4.66 sec., 320.81 mph to 4.94 sec., 287.35 mph). He then faced off against Brandon Bernstein in the second round. Scott took the win (4.65 sec., 317.57 mph to 6.26 sec., 152.35 mph) to set up a semi-final round showdown with Tony Schumacher. Schumacher got the win light (4.74 sec., 297.88 mph to 8.23sec., 87.36 mph) when Scott's race car lost traction on the hot quarter-mile track at IRP.
Scott moved up one spot from fifth to fourth in Top Fuel points with his semifinal showing.
Team Kalitta third dragster driver "Aussie Dave" Grubnic qualified his specially painted Stanley® FatMax® Top Fuel entry in the No. 9 spot. Unfortunately, he was unable to get by Millican in the first round (6.53 sec., 119.13 mph to 5.03 sec., 279.38 mph).
Grubnic dropped from fourth to fifth in Top Fuel points with his early departure.
Indianapolis, Sunday: Kalitta Motorsports three-car Top Fuel dragster team began their quest for the most coveted winner's circle in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series during qualifying at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park by taking No. 1, 3 and 9 slots on Monday's 16-car final eliminations ladder.
Doug Kalitta, driver of the bright red Mac Tools flagship hot rod, wowed the capacity crowd with a pace-setting run of 4.54 seconds at 320.51 mph in Friday night's lone qualifying session. The run remained the best of all five qualifying sessions during the weekend to give Doug the top spot. Doug's cousin and driver of the Mac Tools/Jesse James rail Scott Kalitta was close behind in the No. 3 spot with his blast down the famed quarter mile of 4.57 sec. at 318.99 mph. "Aussie Dave" Grubnic drove his specially painted Stanley FatMax dragster into the eliminations field with his pass of 4.63 sec. at 314.46 mph to land ninth.
Doug will face No. 16 qualifier Bruce Litton in the opening round of final eliminations Monday morning. Scott will match up with No. 14 qualifier Andrew Cowin while Grubnic rolls to the starting line first to meet No. 8 qualifier Clay Millican.
Indianapolis, pre-race: When you are battling for the 2004 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship, every race is big, even every elimination round is big. But for Doug Kalitta, driver of the bright red Mac Tools flagship dragster, the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park is quite probably the biggest race of his seven-year drag racing career.
Not only is Kalitta's 7,000 + horsepower hot rod dominantly decorated with the event's title sponsor, but this is Indy – "The Big Go" – the most prestigious drag racing event every season, and this year it's even more revered because of its golden anniversary. Now, throw into the mix that Kalitta, 40, is in second place in Top Fuel championship points, just 141 markers behind leader Tony Schumacher, and it's easy to see why this Labor Day weekend is no vacation for Kalitta and his Mac Tools team.
"My approach this year is to keep it simple." Kalitta said. "Indy always tends to be a bit overwhelming, but, with all that's going on for us this year, I need to just stay focused and try to relax as much as possible.
"I have a ton of confidence in my crew and a great sponsor in Mac Tools. Hopefully we can go out and set low E.T. (elapsed time) in qualifying and then go out and win the event. We have everything in place to make it happen."
Kalitta, who has 18 NHRA national event Top Fuel trophies, including three in 2004 (Chicago 1, St. Louis and Sonoma), holds the time slips for the quickest (4.420 seconds, Chicago 1, 2004) and the fastest (335.57 mph, Las Vegas 1, 2004) laps down the quarter mile in NHRA history. He was runner-up in championship points in 2003, a career-high finish.
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