Kalitta extends points lead with dominant NHRA Top Fuel win at Texas Motorplex
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio
ENNIS, Texas — Doug Kalitta kept his championship push alive and well by powering to victory Sunday in Top Fuel at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. The veteran driver continued his playoff dominance, winning his second straight race and fourth of the season to extend his points lead with just two events remaining in the Countdown to the Championship.
Doug Kalitta won the NHRA Top Fuel race Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
Kalitta, driving his 12,000-horsepower Mobil DELVAC 100th Anniversary dragster, clocked a winning pass of 3.777 seconds at 333.04 mph to defeat Texan Steve Torrence in the final round. The victory marked Kalitta’s third career win at the Texas Motorplex, his 59th overall and his fourth straight final-round appearance in the 2025 NHRA playoffs.
“It’s amazing, really, for me to drive a car that is as consistent as this one,” Kalitta said. “I feel so thankful when that thing is going down the track and it’s hooked up good. You just hope the win light comes on. Alan’s got a good wheel on that thing — he’s definitely a smart man.”
The win was another statement from Kalitta’s Mac Tools-backed team, led by veteran crew chief Alan Johnson, who continues to fine-tune one of the most consistent cars in the NHRA. On a hot October day under sunny skies and temperatures in the 90s, Kalitta made three runs in the 3.70s — a remarkable show of consistency given the conditions.
Doug Kalitta celebrates after winning the NHRA Top Fuel race on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals held at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
“Yeah, no, Alan and my guys really have a handle on this thing and it’s fun to drive,” Kalitta said. “The temperature swing we had today was crazy, and to be able to run that 3.77 in the final — that’s all Alan. I’m just thankful to be driving the car he’s tuning, that’s for sure.”
Kalitta’s road to the finals and victory wasn’t easy. He opened eliminations by defeating Jasmine Salinas and Ida Zetterström, both of whom have shown strong form late in the season. In the semifinals, he faced teammate Shawn Langdon in a Kalitta Motorsports matchup that had major championship implications.
Kalitta had the advantage off the starting line and never trailed, recording a 3.805 at 332.59 mph to Langdon’s 4.545 at 193.10 mph after Langdon’s car went up in smoke and pitched the blower belt. The win extended Kalitta’s lead over Justin Ashley, who was eliminated earlier by Brittany Force, who open the first round with a monstrous 340.14 mph run against Tony Schumacher.
Torrence, meanwhile, advanced to the final for the 92nd time in his career after taking down Josh Hart, Shawn Reed, and Brittany Force, who suffered an ignition problem in the semifinals and was unable to make her run. Torrence might have had the crowd behind him but could not match Kalitta’s speed in the final.
Shawn Langdon on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
With the victory, Kalitta widened his points lead to 141 over Ashley, putting him in control heading into the last two races of the season in Las Vegas and Pomona. But even with momentum squarely in his corner, the 2023 world champion said he was not ready to celebrate just yet.
“Yeah, I’ve finished second six or seven times, so I’m not gonna count my chickens until they’re hatched,” Kalitta said. “We’re trying to get as many points as possible, stay ahead of whoever’s behind us, and just keep our heads down. Every run is important.”
It was a rough day for many of the championship contenders. Tony Stewart’s playoff hopes took a major hit after a first-round loss to Clay Millican, who himself suffered an explosive finish-line blower failure. Justin Ashley’s day ended early when he hazed the tires against Force, and Antron Brown also fell short in the opening round.
Justin Ashley on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
Despite the chaos, Kalitta’s team maintained their composure — something the veteran credits to the preparation and work ethic of his crew.
“The confidence in everything we’re doing is building,” Kalitta said. “These guys were here until 2:30 on Friday night trying to figure out a problem. The hours that go into this are incredible. I’m just thankful to have this team — a lot of confidence going forward.”
Kalitta admitted that while the championship picture looks promising, he knows how unpredictable drag racing can be. “Until it’s mathematically set up, you just can’t defy the odds,” Kalitta said. “It’s a crazy sport, and that’s why we love it. Pomona’s points-and-a-half race can change everything, so we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.”
Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)
The 59-time winner’s steady demeanor and focus have been key to his late-season surge. “We’ll just get on Alan’s shirttail and ride that baby,” Kalitta joked. “We all have our jobs, and we’re just trying to do them the best we can. We’ll take a couple of weekends off, regroup, and head to Vegas. We’re looking forward to it.”
With two races left, the veteran from Michigan is within striking distance of a second world title — one he’s spent more than two decades chasing.
“Yeah, this is definitely where we want to be,” Kalitta said. “We just have to stay focused, take it one run at a time, and try to finish this thing the right way.”
ENNIS, Texas — Final finish order (1-16) at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. The race is the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Media Center Interview:
TOP FUEL:
- Doug Kalitta; 2. Steve Torrence; 3. Shawn Langdon; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Ida Zetterstrom; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Shawn Reed; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Tony Stewart; 10. Josh Hart; 11. Doug Foley; 12. Antron Brown; 13. Tony Schumacher; 14. Jasmine Salinas; 15. Mitch King; 16. Kyle Satenstein.
FUNNY CAR:
- Austin Prock; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Daniel Wilkerson; 4. Chad Green; 5. Jack Beckman; 6. Cruz Pedregon; 7. Spencer Hyde; 8. Paul Lee; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Alexis DeJoria; 11. Blake Alexander; 12. Dave Richards; 13. Bob Tasca III; 14. Alex Laughlin; 15. Terry Haddock; 16. J.R. Todd.
PRO STOCK:
- Dallas Glenn; 2. Aaron Stanfield; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Jeg Coughlin; 5. Cory Reed; 6. Deric Kramer; 7. Eric Latino; 8. Matt Hartford; 9. Erica Enders; 10. Cody Coughlin; 11. David Cuadra; 12. Matt Latino; 13. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 14. Chris Vang; 15. Stephen Bell; 16. Greg Stanfield.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
- Richard Gadson; 2. Brayden Davis; 3. Gaige Herrera; 4. Matt Smith; 5. John Hall; 6. Angie Smith; 7. Clayton Howey; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Kelly Clontz; 10. Jianna Evaristo; 11. Ryan Oehler; 12. Chase Van Sant; 13. Marc Ingwersen; 14. Lance Bonham; 15. Chris Bostick; 16. Charles Poskey.
ENNIS, Texas — Sunday’s final results from the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. The race is the 18th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.777 seconds, 333.04 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.874 seconds, 317.46 mph.
Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.959, 328.30 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.405, 199.80.
Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.605, 208.89 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.622, 208.75.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.796, 200.37 def. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.817, 200.34.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.470, 208.03 def. Jon Bradford, Foul – Red Light.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.528, 267.36 def. Stan Sipos, Camaro, 5.893, 250.70.
Competition Eliminator — Jeff Taylor, Dragster, 7.049, 152.28 def. Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 9.612, 148.28.
Super Stock — Darrell Stobbe, Chevy Chevelle, 10.260, 126.75 def. Harvey Emmons III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.496, 124.70.
Stock Eliminator — Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.513, 117.67 def. Doug Lambeck, Camaro, 10.148, 126.88.
Super Comp — Wayne Landry, Dragster, 8.913, 178.46 def. Thomas Marlow, Dragster, 8.975, 162.78.
Super Gas — Trisha Owens, Chevy Corvette, 9.919, 157.45 def. Bill Dennis, Cadillac XLR, 9.914, 162.33.
Super Street — James Gonzales, Chevy Vega Wagon, 10.921, 121.62 def. Jimmy Denham, Chevy S-10, 10.893, 126.90.
Top Sportsman — Doug Crumlich, Chevy Corvette, 6.639, 193.05 def. Bradley Johnson, Cobalt, 6.641, 212.37.
Top Dragster — Blake Peavler, Dragster, 6.206, 230.26 def. Michael Kile, Dragster, 6.145, 208.57.
Factory X — Lenny Lottig, Chevy Camaro, 6.973, 196.18 def. Conner Statler, Camaro, 7.005, 197.51.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Clay Burrell, 12.126, 53.64 def. Abigail Wilson, McIlivan, 7.977, 82.43.
ENNIS, Texas — Final round-by-round results from the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 3.700, 335.32 def. Tony Stewart, 3.774, 321.52; Brittany Force, 3.729, 340.14 def. Tony Schumacher, 5.441, 125.47; Shawn Reed, 3.717, 338.83 def. Kyle Satenstein, Foul – Centerline; Justin Ashley, 3.732, 334.25 def. Doug Foley, 4.857, 160.19; Shawn Langdon, 3.697, 336.00 def. Mitch King, 10.680, 79.99; Ida Zetterstrom, 4.257, 206.86 def. Antron Brown, 5.127, 158.61; Doug Kalitta, 3.751, 333.93 def. Jasmine Salinas, 6.219, 99.89; Steve Torrence, 3.993, 264.07 def. Josh Hart, 4.194, 208.21;
QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.757, 332.37 def. Zetterstrom, 3.845, 323.37; Torrence, 3.833, 330.37 def. Reed, 4.076, 257.84; Force, 3.828, 332.79 def. Ashley, 3.943, 292.85; Langdon, 3.790, 333.38 def. Millican, 4.385, 187.38;
SEMIFINALS — Torrence, 3.836, 328.08 def. Force, Broke; Kalitta, 3.805, 332.59 def. Langdon, 4.545, 193.10;
FINAL — Kalitta, 3.777, 333.04 def. Torrence, 3.874, 317.46.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 4.032, 311.48 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 5.380, 132.52; Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.911, 330.57 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.046, 318.72; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.224, 227.28 def. Alex Laughlin, Dodge Charger, 4.580, 193.52; Austin Prock, Camaro, 3.867, 335.70 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.030, 319.24; Paul Lee, Charger, 3.908, 331.25 def. Matt
Hagan, Charger, 3.934, 330.35; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.924, 329.28 def. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.958, 329.60; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.034, 315.44 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, Broke; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.291, 244.21 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.466, 205.33;
QUARTERFINALS — Wilkerson, 3.944, 327.46 def. Beckman, 3.993, 323.14; Prock, 3.939, 329.48 def. Hyde, 5.241, 150.66; Green, 4.082, 296.38 def. Lee, 6.777, 93.93; Capps, 4.042, 314.97 def. Pedregon, 4.994, 159.98;
SEMIFINALS — Capps, 4.019, 315.81 def. Wilkerson, 3.983, 325.73; Prock, 3.963, 328.88 def. Green, 4.068, 308.09;
FINAL — Prock, 3.959, 328.30 def. Capps, 4.405, 199.80.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 6.564, 209.23 def. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.601, 208.22; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.578, 209.06 def. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.596, 208.25; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.636, 210.03; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.554, 208.51 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.602, 209.33; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.537, 208.97 def. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.571, 208.29; Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.534, 208.65 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.598, 209.34; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.532, 208.20 def. David Cuadra, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.568, 209.13 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.556, 208.91;
QUARTERFINALS — A. Stanfield, 6.603, 208.89 def. Hartford, Foul – Red Light; Glenn, 6.574, 208.66 def. E. Latino, 6.601, 209.38; J. Coughlin, 6.602, 208.74 def. Reed, 6.565, 208.36; Anderson, 6.547, 208.73 def. Kramer, 6.585, 209.31;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.627, 208.70 def. J. Coughlin, 11.520, 92.02; A. Stanfield, 6.614, 208.77 def. Anderson, 6.632, 207.70;
FINAL — Glenn, 6.605, 208.89 def. A. Stanfield, 6.622, 208.75.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.863, 197.38 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.881, 198.11; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.803, 200.70 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.804, 197.32 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.899, 194.66; John Hall, 6.819, 199.42 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.801, 201.25 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.855, 200.11; Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.790, 201.15 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.863, 197.79; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.749, 202.52 def. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.750, 202.00 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.306, 177.15;
QUARTERFINALS — M. Smith, 6.888, 198.37 def. A. Smith, 6.889, 197.98; Davis, 6.816, 199.25 def. Hall, 6.867, 198.28; Gadson, 6.817, 199.00 def. Howey, 6.947, 197.26; Herrera, 6.780, 200.95 def. Johnson, Broke – No Show;
SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.813, 198.62 def. M. Smith, 6.873, 198.03; Davis, 6.831, 199.72 def. Herrera, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — Gadson, 6.796, 200.37 def. Davis, 6.817, 200.34.
ENNIS, Texas — Point standings (top 10) following the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
- Doug Kalitta, 2,525; 2. Justin Ashley, 2,384; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2,366; 4. Steve Torrence, 2,297; 5. Brittany Force, 2,291; 6. Tony Stewart, 2,289; 7. Clay Millican, 2,279; 8. Shawn Reed, 2,255; 9. Antron Brown, 2,242; 10. Josh Hart, 2,152.
Funny Car
- Austin Prock, 2,485; 2. Matt Hagan, 2,373; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,354; 4. Ron Capps, 2,336; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,296; 6. Paul Lee, 2,257; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 2,252; 8. Chad Green, 2,236; 9. Spencer Hyde, 2,217; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 2,195.
Pro Stock
- Dallas Glenn, 2,548; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,488; 3. Matt Hartford, 2,323; 4. Aaron Stanfield, 2,318; 5. Cory Reed, 2,275; 6. Eric Latino, 2,250; 7. Erica Enders, 2,243; 8. Cody Coughlin, 2,221; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 2,203; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,145.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
- Richard Gadson, 2,507; 2. Gaige Herrera, 2,435; 3. Matt Smith, 2,402; 4. Brayden Davis, 2,321; 5. John Hall, 2,319; 6. Angie Smith, 2,318; 7. Jianna Evaristo, 2,241; 8. Chase Van Sant, 2,211; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,173; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,148.
