Doug Kalitta secured his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season with a 3.655-second pass at 339.36 mph on Saturday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
The run marked the 65th No. 1 qualifier of Kalitta’s career and sets him up for a first-round matchup against Terry Totten on Sunday as he seeks his second consecutive event win.
“That [3.655] run was very smooth, the car stayed right in the middle,” Kalitta said. “It seems like it drives nice every time it runs big numbers like that. My guys have put together some really consistent runs. They have the car put together the same way each time and that makes a big difference. That’s quite a ride.”
Kalitta credited crew chief Alan Johnson and his team’s preparation for the dragster’s performance through changing weather conditions.
“Alan’s really coming into a stride with my car and the tune-up,” Kalitta said. “Each guy doing what they do is incredibly important. Everybody’s gelling really well.”
Hot, humid conditions and periods of rain had complicated the weekend’s tuning strategies for many teams. Kalitta said his team thrives in variable conditions thanks to its collective experience.
“I’ve got one of the best tuning this thing, and he’s really a numbers guy,” Kalitta said. “The more the weather switches around, for me, I think it’s an advantage just because of my team and Alan doing what he does.”
Kalitta’s day wasn’t without frustration, as he fell short in the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge against teammate Shawn Langdon. Kalitta admitted he nearly red-lighted, forcing a late reaction and ending his chances in the specialty event.
“I had a good beat on the light, and if I would’ve gone when I thought I should have, I was fixing to red light,” Kalitta said. “I just had to regroup. Then I was dead late.”
Despite the result, Kalitta said the car’s performance was still on point.
“That was a good run,” Kalitta said of his pass in the final. “We’ve been quick in a lot of different sessions. Each point counts. You know how it is. We’re getting down to the end of the year.”
Langdon’s win in the Mission Challenge gave him his fourth such victory of the season. Kalitta and Langdon are now tied with five apiece in the bonus program that awards Countdown points.
Asked if the Brainerd event was a chance to build momentum ahead of the U.S. Nationals and the Countdown to the Championship, Kalitta agreed.
“This is a race where everybody gets right,” he said. “If you’re going to do anything stupid, now’s the time to do it because we’re getting down to the end of the year.”
Kalitta said a win at Brainerd would carry personal meaning, noting the track’s history with his late cousin Scott Kalitta.
“It’s been a while since I won here at Brainerd,” Kalitta said. “The thing I always liked about coming here was—whatever the reason—Scott, too, this was a track that we won at a lot. So yeah, it’s definitely on the radar for tomorrow.”
Brittany Force qualified second with a 3.697 at a track-record 340.82 mph. Jordan Vandergriff, driving for injured Shawn Reed, took third with a career-best 3.705 at 334.32 mph.
