Pre-Race Report Event 16: NHRA Northwest Nationals Pacific Raceways Seattle, Wash.

Kalitta looks to close Western Swing on strong note

Last Event Recap (Sonoma): Qualified third; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Shawn Reed in the first round, lost to Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals)

2016 Seattle Recap: Qualified seventh; First round loss (Lost to Richie Crampton in the first round)

Quotable: “My Mac Tools team is working so hard, and I know a win is coming soon. We would love to finish the Western Swing strong with a race win and that is our focus coming into the Northwest Nationals this weekend.”

Career Stats: 449 starts, 608 round wins (ninth all-time), 42 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel), 89 finals, 47 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

2017 Season Stats: Two finals (Pomona-I, Norwalk); One no.1 qualifier (Norwalk); 19 round wins; sixth in the standings

Noteworthy: Kalitta continues to rank as the top driver in the point standings without a win; currently he is just two points from the top five in the standings

Langdon nearing top ten goal

Last Event Recap (Sonoma): Qualified seventh; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Mike Salinas in the first round, lost to Brittany Force in the quarterfinals)

2016 Seattle Recap (w/ DSR): Qualified 11th; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Brittany Force in the first round, lost to J.R. Todd in the quarterfinals)

Quotable: “Our goal is to keep chopping away at the points, and we have done a good job of it during the Western Swing. Hopefully we can have a good weekend; our goal is to leave Seattle in the top ten. The way the weather looks it is going to be a warm event and the track temperature will be up there as well. We need to qualify well and get down the hot track. I have confidence in my Global Electronic Technology team as we have been able to make some good runs in the heat thus far, so I know we have the data to go some rounds and get into the top ten leaving Seattle.”

Career Stats: 196 starts, 238 round wins, 14 wins, 28 finals, 18 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: 11 starts; Eight round wins; 11th in the point standings

Noteworthy: Joined Kalitta Motorsports from Don Schumacher Racing after Las Vegas in a full-time third Top Fuel entry; First national event win was here in 2002 in Super Comp; Seattle is Langdon’s 200th career Top Fuel race

Coughlin Jr. plans for successful Seattle pro debut

Noteworthy: 16th career pro event; a candidate for Auto Club Road to Future trophy (best rookie driver); father is former two-time Pro Mod champion (Troy Coughlin Sr.); uncle is former six-time NHRA champion (Jeg Coughlin Jr.); part of Coughlin family with 114 career wins

Last Event Recap (Sonoma): Qualified 11th; First round loss (Lost to Steve Torrence in the first round)

Quotable: “The SealMaster Toyota team is working hard and is all set for Seattle. We are working through the issues of this car and feel we are getting somewhere. With the leadership of Jim O, Nick, Glen and Donnie, we are going to be just fine. I am going to be as focused as I can be and strive to turn on some win lights for my team.”

2017 Season Stats: 15 starts; Four round wins; 10th in the point standings

Career Info: Five national event wins (Three in Super Gas, Two in Super Comp); 2013 Division III Super Gas Champion; 2015 NHRA Pro Mod Rookie of the Year

Coming off monument win, Todd desires to make more history

Seattle Highlights: One win (2015); One No. 1 qualifier (2007)

Last Event Recap (Sonoma): Qualified 10th; Race Winner (Defeated Alexis DeJoria in the first round, John Force in the quarterfinals, Jack Beckman in the semifinals and Tim Wilkerson in the final)

2016 Seattle Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified third; Semifinalist (Defeated Troy Buff in the first round and Shawn Langdon in the quarterfinals, lost to Steve Torrence in the semifinals)

Quotable: “It’s great to head into Seattle coming off a win with a team that has had success there in the past. We hope to keep the momentum going and finish off the swing on a high note.”

Career Stats: 163 starts, 161 round wins, 10 wins, 20 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 15 starts; One win (Sonoma); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma); 12 round wins)

2017 Season Stats: 15 starts; One win (Sonoma); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma); 12 round wins; ninth in the point standings

Noteworthy: With Sonoma win, became the 16th driver in NHRA history to have a Top Fuel and Funny Car win; became first former Junior Dragster competitor to win in Funny Car and first African-American to win in Funny Car; first driver to have earned a Traxxas Shootout spot in both Top Fuel (2015) and Funny Car (2017); second driver in NHRA history to claim wins at one track in back-to-back seasons in different nitro classes; Todd tied team owner Connie Kalitta with 10 career NHRA wins; won on the Western Swing for the fourth consecutive season

DeJoria Seattle pre-race notes

Last Event Recap (Sonoma): Qualified seventh; First round loss (Lost to J.R. Todd in the first round)

2016 Seattle Recap: Did not compete due to injury

Career Stats: 127 starts; 87 round wins; Four wins; Seven finals; Four no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: 12 starts; Five round wins; 14th in the point standings