While all the attention this past week has been on his Countdown-hopeful teammates and even crew chief Jim Oberhofer for his newly learned ballroom dancing skills, Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta quietly stole the show in his camp and in his class at Brainerd International Raceway.
 
Kalitta pulled off a 3.842-second pass at 305.49 mph in the Technicoat Dragster and will line up first in Sunday’s Lucas Oil Nationals against Luigi Novelli. And, he said that’s all the farther ahead he’s looking.
 
Although he locked into the Countdown several races ago, the Ann Arbor, Mich., resident said, “I’m definitely focused on this race here. We’ll just take one round at a time throughout the year and hope for the best. I feel good about tomorrow. Jim Oberhofer and Troy (Fasching) and all my guys have been working real hard at this thing. We’re hoping to do well tomorrow, hopefully win the race and build some momentum. We’re locked into the chase.”
 
After earning his second No. 1 qualifying position of the year and 30th of his career, Kalitta predicted Sunday conditions would make for some outstanding racing.

While all the attention this past week has been on his Countdown-hopeful teammates and even crew chief Jim Oberhofer for his newly learned ballroom dancing skills, Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta quietly stole the show in his camp and in his class at Brainerd International Raceway.
 
Kalitta pulled off a 3.842-second pass at 305.49 mph in the Technicoat Dragster and will line up first in Sunday’s Lucas Oil Nationals against Luigi Novelli. And, he said that’s all the farther ahead he’s looking.
 
Although he locked into the Countdown several races ago, the Ann Arbor, Mich., resident said, “I’m definitely focused on this race here. We’ll just take one round at a time throughout the year and hope for the best. I feel good about tomorrow. Jim Oberhofer and Troy (Fasching) and all my guys have been working real hard at this thing. We’re hoping to do well tomorrow, hopefully win the race and build some momentum. We’re locked into the chase.”
 
After earning his second No. 1 qualifying position of the year and 30th of his career, Kalitta predicted Sunday conditions would make for some outstanding racing.
 
“We managed to get down the track both lanes today, so I think the track’s pretty even. Looks like there’s some rain moving in tonight, but I think tomorrow’s supposed to be a little bit cooler. The fans are going to be in for a treat with performances tomorrow. It should be an interesting day,” he said.
 
Saturday’s chart-topping run, which nudged out Friday provisional leader Brandon Bernstein in the first Saturday session, was a splendid gift for new associate sponsor Optima Batteries, which recently announced its NHRA sponsorship and partnership with Kalitta Motorsports.
 
Kalitta noted that his car has carried livery for Rocky Boots, Kalitta Air, and longtime partner Technicoat and said, “We’re real proud to have those guys.”
 
Brainerd has been hospitable to his family.
 
“[Team owner/uncle] Connie [Kalitta] won this thing back in ‘85. And we’ve had some luck here,” he said, modestly referring to his own two victories at BIR in 2003 and 2005. And he indicated he’d like to break that five-year Minnesota drought and register his second consecutive victory.
 
“We’ve been fortunate to win here a couple of times with my car. This is always one of the places we like coming to. The fans are great. It’s just a nice area,” he said.
 
For Top Fuel teammate Dave Grubnic, Sunday promises to remain a nail-biter. Now that Steve Torrence secured the class’ ninth berth in the Countdown, only one more spot remains setting up a tug-of-war between Grubnic and Terry McMillen. To be eligible to compete for the championship, Grubnic must advance at least as far as McMillen.

Grubnic appears to have the easier path to the final Countdown spot. Grubnic is matched in the opening round with Terry Haddock, and McMillen will meet Tony Schumacher.
 
Jeff Arend, Kalitta’s Funny Car teammate, remains alive in his struggle against Tony Pedregon and Cruz Pedregon, the current champion who still has a remote mathematical chance to crack the top 10.
 
In the meantime, Doug Kalitta -- despite the roar of a 7,000-horsepower motor -- will go about his business quietly.