Photo: NHRA
Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta picked up his milestone 50th career win on Monday at Maple Grove Raceway, earning his first victory in nearly three years after driving past Steve Torrence in the final round of the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals.
Kalitta powered past Torrence with a run of 3.662 seconds at 336.99 mph in his dragster to open the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, picking up his first win since October of 2020 in St. Louis. Kalitta knocked off Josh Hart, Shawn Langdon, and Leah Pruett on Sunday before inclement weather pushed the final round to Monday.
“This is huge. To get that monkey off my back and get that 50th win, now we can concentrate on the next five (playoff) races,” Kalitta said. “Getting this victory, that’s been big on my list. It was a great job for my team and I’m really proud of their effort. To run like that and go in the 60s in the final, it shows their talent and I couldn’t be happier.”
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 16th of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
In his 100th career final round, Hight took down Chad Green in his Chevrolet Camaro SS, going 3.854 at 330.39 en route to his third win this season and 64th in his career, also slipping past Ron Capps for the points lead.
Hartford picked up his second straight win with a pass of 6.532 at 208.91 in his Camaro to beat Kyle Koretsky in the finals, taking the points lead for the first time in his career.
Defending world champ Smith moved into the points lead with his second win of the season, going 6.807 at 198.50 in the final round on his Suzuki. It is Smith’s 38th career win.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action Sept. 22-24 with the 15th annual betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
NHRA Media
