NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After winning his long-awaited first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world championship, there’s been no slowing down Top Fuel fan-favorite Doug Kalitta during the 2024 season.
 
The longtime standout is the points leader with a commanding advantage this year, and he is set to make more history at this weekend’s 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at festive Brainerd International Raceway, becoming the first Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to make his 600th career appearance.

Kalitta’s storied career began in 1998, and race No. 600 will come this weekend in Brainerd in his Mac Tools Toyota dragster. All these years later, Kalitta is still going strong, winning three races, advancing to five finals rounds, and qualifying No. 1 five times in 2024 heading into the penultimate race of the regular season.
 
“It’s been an interesting ride, and I didn’t realize nobody else has made it to 600 [in Top Fuel]. It’s been a cool ride and a great opportunity for me, competing for as long as I have,” Kalitta said. “I still enjoy driving the cars and surrounding myself with great teams and great people. It’s been amazing driving for Connie [Kalitta, team owner], and I’ve been very fortunate to have so many great people around me. I’m still enjoying it, and as long as we can continue to drive up front, that’s what drives me to keep going.”
 
Last season, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) powered to the winner’s circle at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. This year, the event will again be broadcast on FS1 and FOX, including eliminations action on FOX on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. ET. It is the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 season, and Kalitta will attempt to pick up his third career win in Brainerd and first since the 2005 campaign.
 
The weekend also includes the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday in the three Pro categories, though it will mark a rare occasion that Kalitta won’t appear in the bonus race this year. He suffered a surprising first-round loss in Sonoma and will look to get back on track as the Countdown to the Championship playoffs get closer.
 
That’s where Kalitta got hot a year ago, winning three playoff races to pick up his first world championship, including a winner-take-all final round in Pomona. The team’s momentum is stronger than ever with what has been a brilliant 2024 thus far, but Kalitta knows the challenges will only get more different in the stretch run while facing off against a star-studded lineup that includes Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon, Brown, four-time champ Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher, Clay Millican, Brittany Force, and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart.
 
Kalitta, though, has weathered those challenges this year, proving to be a dynamic duo with standout crew chief Alan Johnson and the rest of his Kalitta Motorsports team. They’ve made a strong impression at nearly every race this year, only losing in the first round on two occasions, but Kalitta hopes there’s no slowing down with this team as he makes his 600th Top Fuel appearance this weekend in Brainerd.
 
“It’s definitely a dogfight right now,” Kalitta said. “Brainerd is always a great place to go, and I look forward to it every year. It’s always entertaining, and the place is always packed. It’s just one of those very entertaining races to go. It’s just a special place to race. Our car has been running well, and hopefully, we can have another great weekend. It’s been fun to be a part of this, and we’re just keeping our heads down, trying to make it happen. When you catch a wave like this, you want to stay on it as long as you can.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:15 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 16 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 17 at noon and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 18. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, as well as coverage of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, qualifying action at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations on FOX at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.
 
To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, fans can call 866-444-4455.