At some point, Doug Kalitta may need to stop calling it a bonus race.
The reigning Top Fuel champion continued his stranglehold on the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. He added another victory at Bristol Dragway in a season where Saturday has become almost as important as Sunday.
Kalitta defeated Leah Pruett in the Top Fuel final of the specialty event during the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. He led a group of winners that also included Jack Beckman in Funny Car, Matt Hartford in Pro Stock, and Richard Gadson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The victory continued what has become one of the quiet storylines of the season. While everyone focuses on Sunday trophies, Kalitta keeps stacking Mission Challenge points and paychecks.
Kalitta covered the distance in 3.922 seconds at 314.90 mph. Pruett ran a competitive 3.918-second pass at 325.45, but Kalitta’s .065 reaction time allowed him to hold the advantage from start to finish.
“Whatever we’ve got going on for Saturdays, we’ve just got to keep it going,” Kalitta said. “The Mission Challenge points are important, and we’re going to keep collecting as many of them as we can.
“It’s just so competitive out here. Some days you need a little luck, but mostly it’s about assembling a great team and continuing to do what we’re doing. This place has been good to me, and I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow.”
Funny Car once again belonged to Jack Beckman.
Less than 24 hours after completing his delayed New England Nationals victory over Jordan Vandergriff, Beckman beat the John Force Racing rookie – his teammate – again when Vandergriff crossed the centerline and struck a timing block in the final round.
The win leaves Beckman in position to accomplish something rarely seen in the sport — three victories in one weekend. He already owns the completed New England Nationals title, added the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge trophy Saturday, and entered Sunday eliminations with a chance to win the Thunder Valley Nationals as well.
“Sometimes these cars are amazing to drive, and sometimes they’ll do anything except what you ask them to do. I think both of us experienced that in the final,” Beckman said.
“To close out the Epping race, win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and still have a shot at the Bristol trophy tomorrow — it’s an unbelievable opportunity. I’ve never been in a position where I could win three trophies in one weekend.”
In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford found a measure of payback.
One week after Dallas Glenn beat him in the New England Nationals final round with a nearly perfect .002-second reaction time, Hartford watched the points leader leave too soon and turn on the red light. Hartford responded with a 6.671-second run at 206.95 mph in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro and collected his first Mission Challenge victory of the season.
“The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is one of the best things NHRA has done,” Hartford said. “The drivers love it, the fans love it, and it adds a whole new level of adrenaline on Saturday.
“It’s really hard to win a round in Pro Stock. To win this race and beat the world champion in the final round makes me incredibly proud of our team.”
Richard Gadson rounded out the winners by returning to the racetrack where his professional career changed direction a year ago.
The reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion defeated Jianna Evaristo with a 6.855 at 197.65 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki, earning his first Mission Challenge victory of the season and reinforcing his status as the rider everyone continues to chase. Evaristo was the No. 1 qualifier for Sunday’s race.
“This Challenge is a favorite among the racers because you go to sleep Saturday night feeling really good, and you wake up Sunday feeling really good,” Gadson said.
“When your bike is running this well and you’re solid on the tree, this Challenge gives you a real boost of confidence heading into race day. This place is special to me because everything changed here.”
