J.R. Todd Reaches NHRA Brainerd Final Round; Shawn Langdon Goes Out Early, But Maintains Points Lead
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals – NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
TOP FUEL WINNER: Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 on
FS2
Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 1 qualifier at the Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals; it was his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season’s 13 races
and the 65th of his career. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came
during the first session Saturday afternoon when the 2023 Top Fuel
champion reached the finish line in 3.655 seconds at 339.36 mph.
Eliminations: Kalitta captured the 100th Top Fuel win in Kalitta
Motorsports history and the 130th overall. He defeated Terry Totten, had
a bye run in the second round, Billy Torrence and Clay Millican. Also:
* It was Kalitta’s second-straight win and the 57th of his career.
* With Shawn Langdon’s Seattle win three weeks ago, it was Team
Kalitta’s third-straight Top Fuel win.
* It was Kalitta’s third Brainerd win and his first at the Minnesota
track since 2005.
Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta leaves Brainerd in third place in
the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails second-place Tony Stewart
by six points and leads fourth-place Justin Ashley by 82 points. He
trails points leader Shawn Langdon by 51 points with one race remaining
in the regular season.
Kalitta on Brainerd: “I’m just really proud of this effort that we’ve
got going on, especially with the timing. Alan, Mac (Crew Chief Alan
Johnson, Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage) and this whole Mac Tools group
are putting it together, and it’s going down the track. I’m just real
thankful. It’s just great to win here, and going to Indy (for the U.S.
Nationals) next, so hopefully we can just keep it rolling.
“This car has been a pleasure to drive. AJ (crew chief Alan Johnson) had
it dialed in. It’s just a matter of putting it together the same way
every time. We’re getting close to the Countdown and it’s also been a
while since I’ve won here in Brainerd. I have a lot of history here when
Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta)was driving, and I was working on his
car. This has always been a special place to race. Consistency is
definitely the name of the game. We have a great shot at another
championship.”
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 on
FS2
Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary Top Fuel Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 on
FS2
Qualifying: Shawn Langdon was the No. 8 qualifier at the Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals. His best attempt came in the final qualifying session
Saturday afternoon when he recorded a 3.742-second effort at 334.32 mph.
During the final round of qualifying Saturday afternoon, Langdon
defeated his teammate, Doug Kalittta, in the final round of the Mission
Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. It was Langdon’s fifth win in the
Saturday race this season – one better than Kalitta. Team Kalitta has
dominated the Saturday race this season winning nine of the 12 Top Fuel
Mission Foods Challenge races this season.
Eliminations: Langdon defeated reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown
in the first round but lost to Brittany Force in the second. Langdon was
leading the race when the Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary dragster smoked
the tires at half-track giving the win to Force.
Unofficial Point Standings: Langdon remains first in the Top Fuel point
standings leaving Brainerd. He leads second-place Tony Stewart by 45
points and third-place Doug Kalitta by 51 points with one race remaining
in the regular season.
Langdon on Brainerd: “Brian, Aaron (Crew Chief Brian Husen, Co-Crew
Chief Aaron Cave) and everyone on this Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary
Toyota team continued to give me a great car in Brainerd. We knew we
were going to have to step up against Brittany (Force) in the second
round and just missed it. A 45-point lead entering the last race of the
regular season is nice, but a lot can happen at Indy, especially with
points and a half. All of these Team Kalitta cars are staying in
Brainerd to do some testing tomorrow to make sure we are at our best for
Kalitta Air, SoundGear, SealMaster, Dayco and all the other great people
that support us. We’re looking forward to Indy.”
Langdon Photo Courtesy: NHRA