Doug Kalitta was the No. 3 qualifier at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor. Kalitta needed just 3.799 seconds to reach the finish line at 316.45 mph in the final qualifying session Saturday afternoon.
Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster and Austin Prock both smoked the tires early in their first-round run; both pedaled, but Kalitta’s car had problems allowing Prock to race to the win light.
Kalitta leaves Topeka in seventh place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails sixth-place Austin Prock by 56 points and leads eighth-place Mike Salinas by 22 points.
“That first round was pretty disappointing with how our Mac Tools Toyota team has been running, but like I’ve said, this sport can be humbling,” said Kalitta. “Just when you think you’re making good progress, it can knock you down, but I know my guys will get back up and be ready to jump back in the fight next week in Brainerd.”
This story was originally published on August 14, 2023. 
