Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools Toyota team completely understand an applicable cliché: it’s not over ‘til it’s over. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs continue with the fifth of six playoff races Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas.
After two-straight wins in four-consecutive Playoff final rounds, Kalitta enters the season’s penultimate race with a commanding lead in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He leads second-place Justin Ashley by 141 points and leads the third-place driver, his teammate Shawn Langdon, by 159 points. Yet in this sport, anything can happen, and Kalitta is well aware.
“I’ve finished second seven times so for me, you never count your chickens until they’re hatched; I’ve stayed pretty low-key about the situation,” the 2023 Top Fuel champion said. “We still have two races to go. It’s great to have a lead, but would certainly be better if we could get far enough ahead so nobody can catch us – that’s the goal.
“Alan (Crew Chief Alan Johnson) has a good handle on our car; I’ve watched him a lot over the years, and I’m real thankful to be driving the car he’s tuning, that’s for sure. It’s amazing for me to drive a car as consistent as this one. I feel so thankful when this thing is hooked up and going down the track; it’s like, ‘thank goodness it’s another good run.’ Alan definitely has a lot of different conditions figured out; you just need to have something up your sleeve as a crew chief out here to be able to do what he does.”
Two years ago, Kalitta was one of three drivers entering the Las Vegas race separated by 14 points atop the standings, and the championship went down to the final round of the final race of the season. It evolved into a “winner take all” round between Kalitta and Leah Pruett. Kalitta won the round, the race and the title. It’s a very different story this year.
“We’re looking forward to getting to Vegas to get as many points as possible,” Kalitta said. “My guys have the car running well so hopefully, we can continue doing what we’re doing at these last two races – that’s the goal. Go there, win the race and let the points add up to whatever they do. It’s definitely a little different scenario than I’ve had in the past. It’s possible for us to come out of Las Vegas with enough points not to have a mathematical issue going onto the last race.”
Indeed, it is. Should Kalitta leave Las Vegas leading by 192 points, which means adding 51 points to his current lead, he would clinch the championship.
“The coolest thing is that a lot of people have won the championship twice, like my cousin, Scott. It would be cool to be part of that group. That’s the goal. We just get on Alan’s shirt tail and ride that baby! No, but we all have our jobs so it’s all about everybody doing their jobs the best they can, consistency in putting the car together and going down the track. It’s a crazy sport; that’s why we love it. So many different things can happen that could derail our momentum so we’re just trying to keep it going.”
And hold off on the chicken counting.
This story was originally published on October 29, 2025. 
