Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Scott Kalitta Jesse James 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: One year ago, two-time Top Fuel Champion (1994 - 1995) Scott Kalitta returned to professional drag racing after a five-year hiatus at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. With a complete year now under his belt, Kalitta is anxious to see what the future holds for him and his Mac Tools/Jesse James Top Fuel dragster team this season at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world's most prestigious drag racing event, is celebrating its golden anniversary in 2004.
"What a difference a year makes," Kalitta said. "We've had ups and downs just like everybody else, but the Mac Tools/Jesse James car really seems to be finding a good groove now. Finishing out last year, there was very little pressure on me because I'd been gone for so long, and expectations were not all that high. That has all changed this year. We feel the pressure to win and perform just like our teammates and every other team out there.
"My dad (team owner and crew chief Connie Kalitta) got his only win at Indy 10 years ago against Eddie Hill in 1994. I've won a couple of championships and those are great, but I've never won Indy. It's the one event that every driver wants to win. It would be great to celebrate the tenth anniversary of dad's win by winning it this year and really solidify my return to drag racing."
Since his return to the Top Fuel ranks, Kalitta, 42, has posted 11 semifinal appearances that have parlayed into four final rounds, two (Denver and Memphis) of which have been part of Kalitta Motorsports' incredible total of six consecutive finals in the six latest events, and one win (Denver, 2004), his first title since June 1997, in Topeka.
Kalitta has earned 16 (15 Top Fuel, 1 Funny Car) NHRA event trophies in his 23-year career.
Kalitta's Mac Tools/Jesse James dragster runs out of the Kalitta Motorsports racing stable, the only full-time, three-car Top Fuel dragster team in the NHRA. His cousin Doug Kalitta carries the flagship colors for Mac Tools on his nitro rail for Team Kalitta. Their teammate and native Australian "Aussie Dave" Grubnic bears the brand FatMax for Stanley on his specially painted race car for "The Big Go."
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