{"id":55167,"date":"2025-10-12T22:14:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T03:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=55167"},"modified":"2025-10-12T23:28:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T04:28:25","slug":"kalitta-extends-points-lead-with-dominant-nhra-top-fuel-win-at-texas-motorplex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/12\/kalitta-extends-points-lead-with-dominant-nhra-top-fuel-win-at-texas-motorplex\/","title":{"rendered":"Kalitta extends points lead with dominant NHRA Top Fuel win at Texas Motorplex"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio<\/em><\/p>\n

ENNIS, Texas \u2014<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

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Doug Kalitta won the NHRA Top Fuel race Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2019s third career win at the Texas Motorplex, his 59th overall and his fourth straight final-round appearance in the 2025 NHRA playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, really, for me to drive a car that is as consistent as this one,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cI feel so thankful when that thing is going down the track and it\u2019s hooked up good. You just hope the win light comes on. Alan\u2019s got a good wheel on that thing \u2014 he\u2019s definitely a smart man.\u201d<\/p>\n

The win was another statement from Kalitta\u2019s 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 \u2014 a remarkable show of consistency given the conditions.<\/p>\n

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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)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYeah, no, Alan and my guys really have a handle on this thing and it\u2019s fun to drive,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cThe temperature swing we had today was crazy, and to be able to run that 3.77 in the final \u2014 that\u2019s all Alan. I\u2019m just thankful to be driving the car he\u2019s tuning, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalitta\u2019s road to the finals and victory wasn\u2019t easy. He opened eliminations by defeating Jasmine Salinas and Ida Zetterstr\u00f6m, 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.<\/p>\n

Kalitta had the advantage off the starting line and never trailed, recording a 3.805 at 332.59 mph to Langdon\u2019s 4.545 at 193.10 mph after Langdon\u2019s car went up in smoke and pitched the blower belt. The win extended Kalitta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s speed in the final.<\/p>\n

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Shawn Langdon on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ve finished second six or seven times, so I\u2019m not gonna count my chickens until they\u2019re hatched,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to get as many points as possible, stay ahead of whoever\u2019s behind us, and just keep our heads down. Every run is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a rough day for many of the championship contenders. Tony Stewart\u2019s 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\u2019s day ended early when he hazed the tires against Force, and Antron Brown also fell short in the opening round.<\/p>\n

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Justin Ashley on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite the chaos, Kalitta\u2019s team maintained their composure \u2014 something the veteran credits to the preparation and work ethic of his crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe confidence in everything we\u2019re doing is building,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cThese guys were here until 2:30 on Friday night trying to figure out a problem. The hours that go into this are incredible. I\u2019m just thankful to have this team \u2014 a lot of confidence going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalitta admitted that while the championship picture looks promising, he knows how unpredictable drag racing can be. \u201cUntil it\u2019s mathematically set up, you just can\u2019t defy the odds,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cIt\u2019s a crazy sport, and that\u2019s why we love it. Pomona\u2019s points-and-a-half race can change everything, so we\u2019ll just keep doing what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

The 59-time winner\u2019s steady demeanor and focus have been key to his late-season surge. \u201cWe\u2019ll just get on Alan\u2019s shirttail and ride that baby,\u201d Kalitta joked. \u201cWe all have our jobs, and we\u2019re just trying to do them the best we can. We\u2019ll take a couple of weekends off, regroup, and head to Vegas. We\u2019re looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With two races left, the veteran from Michigan is within striking distance of a second world title \u2014 one he\u2019s spent more than two decades chasing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, this is definitely where we want to be,\u201d Kalitta said. \u201cWe just have to stay focused, take it one run at a time, and try to finish this thing the right way.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interview:<\/h3>\n