Doug Kalitta Finds 80,000 More Reasons to Like NHRA Pomona Dragstrip
Mac Tools Dragster driver Doug Kalitta already had a terrific relationship with Southern California's In-N-Out Burger Dragstrip. The most significant of his seven NHRA victories here came in November 2023 against Leah Pruett in a winner-take-all final round to clinch the Top Fuel championship, his long-awaited first.
Even before he took to the track for Friday's opening-day action at the Lucas Oil Winternationals, he said, 'Pomona has been a really good track for us over the years, and we'd like to make more memories there this weekend. We've done well there, but so has Alan [crew chief Johnson]. So that's a lot of track knowledge that is an added bonus for our team. Hopefully things will line up well for us, and we can have a shot at a win this weekend.'
He was referring to the Winternationals. But he got his wish early.
Kalitta is $80,000 richer for his Friday victory over final-round opponent Brittany Force in the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout. He defeated Clay Millican and Antron Brown to advance to the final.
The event was washed out at the season-opening Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., and Kalitta said, "There's no better place to bring it than here. It was a fun day for sure."
Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 65th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.646 seconds, 334.82 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.657, 335.15; 3. Josh Hart, 3.675, 332.34; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.690, 336.91; 5. Antron Brown, 3.695, 336.65; 6. Tony Stewart, 3.695, 329.75; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.695, 333.66; 8. Shawn Reed, 3.698, 331.36; 9. Jasmine Salinas, 3.700, 322.65; 10. Clay Millican, 3.733, 327.59; 11. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.741, 334.24; 12. Scott Palmer, 3.836, 313.80; 13. Shawn Langdon, 4.839, 149.75.
Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.830, 330.47; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.837, 333.25; 3. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.855, 326.48; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.888, 325.30; 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.889, 329.18; 6. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.930, 320.97; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.932, 328.78; 8. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.950, 322.42; 9. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 3.963, 296.70; 10. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.971, 271.08; 11. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.010, 290.57; 12. Bobby Bode, GR Supra, 4.026, 310.34; 13. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4.104, 253.80; 14. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.125, 284.15; 15. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 4.277, 215.44; 16. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.685, 180.65. Not Qualified: 17. Blake Alexander, 4.969, 162.39; 18. Bob Tasca III, 7.572, 82.79; 19. Daniel Wilkerson, 7.993, 85.04.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.495, 210.01; 2. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.510, 210.05; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.515, 210.80; 4. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.516, 210.93; 5. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.517, 210.41; 6. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.517, 209.82; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.519, 211.03; 8. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.541, 210.18; 9. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.546, 210.34; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.553, 210.57; 11. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.555, 210.97; 12. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.555, 209.82; 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.556, 209.79; 14. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.558, 210.11; 15. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.563, 209.88; 16. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.586, 208.75. Not Qualified: 17. Stephen Bell, 6.595, 208.94; 18. Kenny Delco, 6.605, 208.68; 19. Joey Grose, 6.652, 207.11.
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