POMONA, Calif., (Feb. 22, 2011) – Doug Kalitta, driver of the 300+ mph Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster, won one event (Denver) in last season’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season. As the 2011 season gets set to get started this weekend, Feb. 24-27, at the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, Calif., Kalitta is eager for the chance to get another Winternationals trophy on his mantle and possibly move into a group of professional drag racing’s elite later this year.
Kalitta, a 32-time NHRA Top Fuel national event winner, ended the 2010 NHRA campaign with his 400th career elimination-round win at his 300th event as a rail driver. He currently sits in the No. 7 spot for all-time Top Fuel event wins, but with three more wins he would move into the top five with a tie with one of the greatest names in the history of the sport, Don Garlits.
“I’ve never really paid attention to stats,” Kalitta, a 46-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. “The only number I’ve ever cared about in my drag racing career is four because it takes four round-wins in eliminations to get the trophy. It would be great to get into that top-five group, though. Hopefully we can make that happen this year.
“Our Kalitta Air team is really looking forward to getting the season started and seeing what we can do this year. We had a great car last year and I think we will have an even better one this year. Jim (Oberhofer, crew chief) and the guys have always put a great car together for me to drive. I’m sure will have one that can contend for win in Pomona and for wins for the rest of the year.”
Kalitta, who has finished in the top ten in championship points in every season since his Top Fuel career began in 1998, won the Winternationals title trophy in 2009.
Event Schedule
The Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals begin Thursday for the nitro-fueled classes with one qualifying session at 1:30 p.m. (PT). Another qualifying session takes place at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Two more qualifying attempts will take place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars in each pro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Times and dates subject to change.
TV Schedule
2/26/2011 Qualifying – 11:00 PM-1:00 AM (ET) ESPN2
2/27/2011 Eliminations – 7:00 PM-10:00 PM (ET) ESPN2