Doug Kalitta Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster

Doug Kalitta is the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Champion. Including his 2023 championship, the nephew of team owner Connie Kalitta owns a remarkable 26-year streak of finishing the season in the top 10 in points.

Already a member of the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, Kalitta won the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel title on the strength of three race wins in the six-race Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs. He won the first two Countdown races and finished the season with a brilliant final-round victory at the In ‘n Out Burger NHRA Finals. The entire season came down to a winner-take-all final round with Leah Pruett. With his uncle watching from the just outside Kalitta’s lane, Kalitta turned on the biggest win light of his storied career to clinch the title.

Entering the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing season, Kalitta is tied with the legendary Joe Amato for fifth on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel wins list with 52 winner’s circle celebrations in addition to 60 runner-up finishes and 53 No. 1 qualifiers.

Tuning the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster is 14-time NHRA Top Fuel championship tuner Alan Johnson. Kalitta is the seventh-different driver to reach the Top Fuel pinnacle with Johnson tuning the car.

Prior to his NHRA career, which began with his first start at the opening race of the 1998 season in Pomona, Calif., Kalitta raced in USAC events. He was the 1991 USAC Midget Series Rookie of the Year and the 1994 USAC Sprint Car Champion. Kalitta won 21 USAC events: 14 in Midget races and seven in Sprint Car competition.

When he’s not racing NHRA Top Fuel dragsters, Kalitta is the owner and president of Kalitta Charters, which provides air charter services for cargo, passenger and medical transport, either by contract or on-demand, to a highly diverse customer base.

Doug Kalitta Quick Facts (through 2023):

Residence: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Hometown: Mount Clemens, Mich.
Date of Birth: Aug. 20, 1964
Career Race Wins: 52 (Tied for fifth in Top Fuel history)
Career No. 1 Qualifiers: 53 (Tied for 14th in NHRA history)
Fastest Speed: 336.99 mph (Reading, 2023)
Career Rounds Raced Won-Lost: 767-528 (.600)
Best points finish: 1 (2023)
First start: Pomona1, 1998

Personal Information:

Marital Status: Wife, Josie
Children: Son, Mitchell and daughter, Avery
Height/weight: 5’11”, 180 lbs.
Hobbies: Boating, fishing and hunting

Notable: Kalitta is the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel champion; on most race weekends, Kalitta flies the plane taking members of his race team from Michigan to the race city. He is a member of the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, nephew of team owner Connie Kalitta and the owner and president of Kalitta Charters. He earned his Learjet license at age 21. He is the 1991 USAC Midget Series Rookie of the Year and 1994 USAC Midget Sprint Car National Champion.