POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2026) – – Doug Kalitta is the No. 1 qualifier for tomorrow’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in California, and the stage that will determine the season championships is set. Sunday’s race broadcast is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. eastern time on FS1 followed by a post-race show at 8 p.m.
Kalitta made his best qualifying attempt during Friday’s first session when he reached the finish line in 3.677 seconds at 340.39 mph; Friday’s second round of qualifying was rained out, but Kalitta’s run held up through the third and fourth sessions under sunny Southern California skies on Saturday. It is Kalitta’s seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 73rd of his career. In addition, Kalitta’s No. 1 qualifier is the eighth consecutive Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier for Kalitta Motorsports – four each for Kalitta and his teammate, Shawn Langdon, and the duo combined to win 16 No. 1 qualifiers in the season’s 20 races.
“It was a great run last night,” Kalitta said. “I’m super proud of Alan, Mac (Crew Chiefs Alan Johnson and Mac Savage), and all my guys. Alan’s kind of the master of Pomona because he’s had such success here. I’m in a great spot, very fortunate to obviously have my crew behind me. It was a really a great effort for this Mac Tools team.”
Kalitta will race No. 16 qualifier Bernie Blourd in the first round. Langdon is the No. 6 qualifier and will race No. 11 qualifier Josh Hart.
Langdon enters race day with a 97-point lead over Kalitta in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. If Langdon wins his first-round race tomorrow, he will clinch his second NHRA Top Fuel championship. Should Langdon lose in the first round, Kalitta must win the race to win what would be his third Top Fuel championship.
“I have Alan Johnson in my corner, and he does magic here (in Pomona),” Kalitta said. “I’ve got good luck here myself. Our goal is just to win the race and let Shawn do whatever he does and hope we have an opportunity. Either way, Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) is our fearless leader, and we’re taking it home to him – I just hope it’s my car.”
“It really all boils down to this first round,” Langdon said. “I have all the confidence in the world of my team, Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen), everybody at Kalitta Air and all our partners. These are the moments that we dream about; these moments are why we get up early in the morning and work all those long hours. It’s going to be a big round, and we’re going to put our best foot forward. We’re going to win or lose as a team, but at the end of the day, Kalitta Motorsports will be getting a championship. That’s the primary focus, but I’m excited for tomorrow; I’m ready for it.”
In Funny Car, J.R. Todd qualified third and will race No. 14 qualifier Julie Nataas in the first round. With qualifying bonus points earned this weekend, Todd cut his points deficit from 104 points to 95 and is still mathematically in contention for the title. He trails first-place Matt Hagan by 95 points and second-place Jordan Vandergriff by 39.
For Todd to win his second Funny Car title, he must win the race and get some help. Hagan must go out first round, and Vandergriff must go out by the semifinals for Todd to have a shot at the title.
“I always have hope,” Todd said. “I hope we can win the race, but we need some help along the way; we know that. No one’s really giving us a shot so we just need to do the best we can, and that’s win the race. We can’t control what the cars in front of us do, but I’m really proud of my guys for everything they’ve done so far this year. We’ve kind of quietly gotten to this position, but we just need to finish it.”
Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
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