Doug Kalitta narrowly missed his own track record Friday, but claimed the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. Kalitta ran 3.671 seconds at 335.90 mph under the lights to lead the opening round of qualifying at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.
J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also topped their respective categories after the first day of qualifying. Each driver earned the Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” bonus for his performance.
Kalitta’s run came within .001 of a second of his 2024 track-record pass. A sixth No. 1 qualifier this year would extend his strong qualifying season as he chases his first race win of 2025.
“The conditions were good, and I was really hopeful my car would go out there and run a good number,” Kalitta said. “We were making a lot of changes back in the staging lanes because people were smoking the tires. I wasn’t sure if they backed the thing down or what but when the thing left, I could tell it was really running. I wasn’t sure what it ran, but I was definitely pleased to hear what we ended up with.
“I’m sure they’ll be gunning for that tomorrow because it’s definitely within reach,” Kalitta added. “I’m just real fortunate Alan (Johnson, crew chief) and Mac (Savage) and my whole team can throw down with the best of them.”
Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon sits second with a 3.689 at 332.92, while Brittany Force is third after a 3.703 at a track-record 340.47 mph.
In Funny Car, Todd delivered a 3.901, 329.26 in his DHL Toyota GR Supra to lead the field. He was one of just two drivers in the category to record a three-second run Friday.
Todd said his car was a handful down the track but got the job done. “From the time I hit the gas, a whole sequence of events happened. It picked the front end up pretty good. I must have had it pointed right, so I snatch it back left, and then goes out there and quivers the tires a little bit,” Todd said.
“Once that happens, it kind of puts you behind, then there’s a pretty good bump out there, so I’m just steering the thing all over the place,” he added. “I definitely did not expect it to make it, but it did.”
Chad Green is second in Funny Car at 3.928, and was the only other driver to run in the three-second zone – or fours – Friday. Austin Prock is third with a 5.580.
Pro Stock saw Anderson and Dallas Glenn trade track records throughout the night before Anderson took the top spot. His 6.472 at 211.13 gave him the lead and the low-qualifier bonus.
“Two great runs for both of us. We’re certainly not disappointed either way,” Anderson said. “Getting the track record is definitely cool, but sometimes that low E.T. doesn’t win a race. I’d certainly rather have the fastest race car. It appears that either Dallas or I have that right now, but it doesn’t guarantee anything.”
Glenn was second at 6.479, with Greg Stanfield in third at 6.493.
Hall, fresh off his first win in 12 years last month, set a career-best 6.717 at 201.76 to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle. If it holds, Hall would earn his first career No. 1 qualifier.
“I could have probably gone close to that in the first round, but I screwed up, so we knew it had power, we knew it was fast, and I just went out there and did it,” Hall said. “Matt and Angie [Smith] have done a lot of work and research. This bike just wasn’t running in the beginning of the season. They spent a lot of time and money and effort to get this bike to where it is, and now it’s fast, obviously.”
Gaige Herrera is second in Pro Stock Motorcycle at 6.721, with Matt Smith third at 6.733.
Qualifying resumes Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT at Pacific Raceways.
