Doug Kalitta won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Top Fuel on Saturday, setting a strong pace while securing the No. 1 qualifier position at the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. He defeated Antron Brown, Steve Torrence, and Josh Hart with a time of 4.661 seconds at 237.92 mph.
“About half-track the thing obviously decided it wasn’t going to make it without smoking the tires,” Kalitta said. “Our guys can pedal very well, so you have to do what you can to get it to the finish without blowing the thing up.”
Kalitta’s victory marked the second consecutive win in the specialty event for the season. He is one of 16 drivers who will attempt to capture the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history Sunday.
Reigning NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock was quick off the line with a .058 reaction time, winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge with a time of 3.949, 322.50. He edged past Spencer Hyde, who also ran a 3.949 but with a slower reaction time.
“Last year we figured out how important these Mission Challenge (bonus) points are,” Prock said. “Both runs today were nice, clean runs in hotter conditions, which we’re probably going to see more like tomorrow.”
In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford claimed his second Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win of the year, using a .021 reaction time to secure a victory with a 6.567, 210.37. He held off Greg Anderson, who finished with a run of 6.540, 210.24.
“Last year was a rough year but we turned it around during the Countdown,” Hartford said. “To come out here and run well on Saturday gives you positive energy for Sunday.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson captured his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win of the year on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Gadson defeated his teammate Gaige Herrera, with Matt Smith also in the final.
“It was crazy but I’ll take it,” Gadson said. “It’s big for our team to know we have a second bike that can get the job done. To be honest, I didn’t really think about winning until 30 minutes before we ran.”
