Post-Race Report #SummerNats

JR Todd Sunday Indy

Doug Kalitta, Osborn Exit SummerNationals With Points Lead

Flying the blue and white of new sponsor Osborn this weekend Doug Kalitta powered his Top Fuel dragster to a quarterfinal finish at the NHRA SummerNationals in Indianapolis. After two solid runs in qualifying yesterday Kalitta started the race day as the No. 6 qualifier. His first round opponent was Doug Foley and the Mello Yello point leader knew he could not take the racer from Mooresville, North Carolina lightly.
 
The Osborn Top Fuel dragster and Kalitta got the jump off the starting line and they never trailed in the drag race. Kalitta’s winning time of 3.808 seconds outpaced Foley’s respectable 3.968 second run. As Kalitta crossed the finish line he flew through the speed trap at 319.45 mph, which combined with his elapsed time were his quickest and fastest numbers of the weekend. The round win was important when you consider how tough the competition is and how the NHRA is working to maximize events across the country.
 
In the second round Kalitta had lane choice over second generation driver and upstart Top Fuel racer Justin Ashley. In a close race that was decided by just a few feet it was Kalitta coming up short but not discouraged. As both dragsters approached the finish line Ashley was mixing up cylinders but he had just enough of an edge to out distance the Osborn dragster.
 
“That was just racing,” said Kalitta. “A second-round loss – that’s one of those deals that you just hope doesn’t happen. We had a pretty strong run in going A to B. We were right there. Overall, it was good having Osborn on the car with us this weekend. I love running this place. We’ll just keep our heads down and move on to the next one.”
 
Even with the quarterfinal loss, his earliest exit since the AAA Texas FallNationals in Dallas last season, a span of seven races Kalitta was encouraged to hold onto the points lead.
 
“You want to put as many rounds on the guys behind you as possible,” said Kalitta. “The Torrences are back there and there are other cars too. We will leave with the points lead no matter what but it would have been great to get two more round wins today.”
 
In two weeks the NHRA will be back in Indianapolis and Kalitta is looking forward to the return to the site of his biggest career win, the 2019 U.S. Nationals.
 
“We will be back in Indy in a couple weeks and I love racing here. There is a lot of history and we have won rounds. This weekend we were with Osborn and we’ll be back with Mac Tools in a couple weeks. Rob and Troy have a great handle on this tune up and I have a lot of confidence. We are going to just tray and qualifying as best we can and win as many rounds as possible.”
 
Quotable: 
Doug Kalitta on snapping streak of final round appearances: “We will just have to try and get that streak going again in a couple of weeks. We have a great race car and I know Rob and Troy will look at how to make it even better for the rest of the season.” 
 
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.907 sec., 308.35 mph) 
Bonus points: 0

Race Details: 

First Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH 
Doug Kalitta               6          .077     3.808   319.45 (W)

Doug Foley                  11        .096     3.968   298.80
 
Second Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH 
Doug Kalitta               6          .065     3.830   314.46 

Justin Ashley                14        .059     3.811   314.02 (W)

JR Todd Sunday Indy

J.R. Todd Powers to Quarterfinals and Moves Up in Points

The DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and J.R. Todd rolled off the trailer for the NHRA SummerNationals looking to move up the point standings and go rounds on race day. They immediately made an impact during Saturday’s first qualifying session posting one of the three quickest runs of the first round of qualifying and moving into race day as the No. 5 qualifier.
 
In the opening session today Todd took on veteran Funny Car racer Jim Campbell. Todd and his Camry Funny Car made their quickest run of the weekend on the way to victory. His 4.030 second run was enough to run away from Campbell who was drifting to the centerline and had to lift off the throttle Todd never trailed in the race after the race cars cleared the starting line Christmas Tree.
 
The round win moved Todd up to the 6th position in the Mello Yello Funny Car standings just two rounds out of 5th place. He advanced to the quarterfinals and a race with the most recent race winner Matt Hagan.
 
The DHL Toyota Camry was consistent in the quarterfinals posting a slightly quicker 4.028 second elapsed time but it wasn’t enough to outrun Hagan.
 
“These guys going to the later rounds like Hagan are throwing out big numbers and it shows that the track is capable of holding it,” said Todd. “We’re showing consistency, but we just need that little more to win these rounds and gain some points. The biggest thing is we’re not gaining on the guys in front of us. The DHL Toyota guys have come a long way in these two races. Hopefully, when we come back here for the third race we will be in contention to win. East coast, west coast, I just want to race, but I miss going to those other tracks as well.”
 
Quotable:
J.R. Todd on seeing more fans at the races: “It is cool to see more fans here this weekend. I just want to keep racing and stay safe.”
 
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 5 (4.059 sec., 313.73 mph)
Bonus points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q1)

Race Details:
 
First Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH  
J.R. Todd                     5          .090     4.030   314.68 (W)
Jim Campbell              12        .080     5.325   142.82
 
Second Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH  
J.R. Todd                     5          .069     4.028   317.19
Matt Hagan                 13        .097     3.949   323.81 (W)

Shawn Sunday Indy

Tough Outing Does Not Hurt Shawn Langdon, DHL Top Fuel

Coming back to the race track in Indianapolis just minutes from his home had Shawn Langdon and the DHL Top Fuel dragster team eager to spend a long day at the races. After the second qualifying run on Saturday which Langdon posted the quickest run of the session and collected three valuable bonus points the 2013 Top Fuel champion looked to be in a position to advance.
 
The unpredictability of the 2020 NHRA season reared its head as the No. 1 qualifier, No. 3 qualifier, the No. 5 qualifier and the No. 7 qualifier all lost in first round upsets. Unfortunately on the strength of his Saturday runs Langdon was the No. 3 qualifier that was ousted by eventual finalist Justin Ashley.
 
In one of the closest races of the first round Langdon and Ashley left side by side and were both charging down track. The pair were both flying to the finish line with Ashley barely out in front. When the scoreboards lit up it was Ashley with a quicker elapsed time of 3.829 seconds beside Langdon’s 3.891 second pass.
 
With a third race in Indianapolis in two weeks due to the postponement of the Denver NHRA National event Langdon is pleased he will have a home field advantage.
 
“It’s like racing for the Indy track championship. I don’t mind it, it’s just different,” said Langdon. “Truthfully, it’s nice. I’m at home every night and sleeping in my own bed. I can come out here and my condo is just 10 minutes from the track. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve been at home for a month in probably 10, 15 or 20 years. Of course, we want to go out and race, but it’s an aspect of life that I’ve missed. It’s nice being out here and racing. We’ve got a good car. Your team is like your family and it’s good to see them and work with them again. I’ve missed a lot of Connie’s jokes and his stories.”
 
Quotable:
Langdon on Top Fuel competition: “There are a lot of good Top Fuel cars out here. Look at some of the upsets in the first round. There are no easy rounds and you have to have a total package to get a win every single round. I have a lot of confidence in my DHL guys that we will be able to do that week in and week out.”
 
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 3 (3.855 sec., 314.46 mph) 
Bonus points: +3 (Quickest of Q2)

Race Details:

First Round
Driver                          Qual    R/T      ET        MPH  
Shawn Langdon         3          .050     3.891   305.91
Justin Ashley                14        .062     3.829   321.27 (W)