Pre-Race Report Event 05: NHRA SpringNationals Royal Purple Raceway Baytown, Texas

 Defending Houston event champion Kalitta has potential for major career milestone

Houston Highlights: Defending event champion; Only driver in Top Fuel history with back-to-back wins at Houston; Three wins (2016, 2015, 2003); Three no.1 qualifiers (2013, 2003, 2002)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified third; Semi-finalist (Defeated Steve Chrisman in the first round and Clay Millican in the quarter-finals, lost to Tony Schumacher in the semi-finals)

2016 SpringNationals Recap: Qualified second; Race Winner (Defeated Terry Haddock in the first round, Kebin Kinsley in the second round, Leah Pritchett in the semi-finals and Steve Torrence in the final)

Quotable: “Houston has been a good place for us the past couple of years. The weather conditions are usually really good and I’m really looking forward to getting back down there. It would be real cool to win three straight races at the same track. It’s awfully hard to do these days, but my Mac Tools Toyota team is really doing a hell of a job, week in and week out. We’ll go in there with that goal and see if we can pull it off again.”

Career Stats: 438 starts, 596 round wins (10th all-time), 42 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel), 88 finals, 47 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

2017 Season Stats: One final (Pomona-I); 7 round wins; fourth in the standings

2016 Season Stats: Four wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka, Pomona-II); Four no.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-II); Two finals (Pomona-I, Charlotte-II); 44 round wins; second in the final standings 

Noteworthy: If Kalitta earns two round wins, he would pass Bob Glidden for ninth all-time in total round wins; With a race win, Kalitta would become the ninth driver to hit 600 round wins; also will reach 1,000 career rounds competed early this year (currently at 992)

Langdon desires strong start in Kalitta debut

Houston Highlights: One final (2012)

Last Event Recap (2016 Auto Club Finals at Pomona with Don Schumacher Racing): Qualified third; Semi-finalist (Defeated Tripp Tatum in the first round and Steve Torrence in the quarter-finals, lost to Doug Kalitta in the semi-finals)

2016 SpringNationals Recap (with DSR): Qualified sixth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Troy Buff in the first round, lost to Leah Pritchett in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “I am definitely excited to get behind the wheel. It is going to feel good to hit the gas, because I haven’t done that since November. I know some people may think we are going to be behind the eight-ball because we are coming in four races into the season, but Kalitta Motorsports has put a great Global Electronic Technology team behind me and with Connie Kalitta tuning it, I know we will have a great shot at going for the win.”

Career Stats: 188 starts, 230 round wins, 14 wins, 28 finals, 18 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: Season debut

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Bristol, Norwalk, St. Louis); 30 round wins; fifth in the final standings

Noteworthy: Joined Kalitta Motorsports from Don Schumacher Racing after Las Vegas in a full-time third Top Fuel entry; missed the first four events of the 2017 season due to lack of sponsorship; Langdon’s ride will be backed by Global Electronic Technology, the fastest name in credit card processing, for 19 of the remaining 20 events this season

Coughlin Jr. excited for Houston event with new team 

Noteworthy: Fifth career pro event; a candidate for Auto Club Road to Future trophy (best rookie driver); father is former Pro Mod champion (Troy Coughlin Sr.); uncle is former Pro Stock champion (Jeg Coughlin Jr.)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified seventh; First round defeat (Lost to Terry McMillen in the first round)

Quotable: “Well, we have a new group of SealMaster Toyota guys and they have worked tirelessly to get the car and trailer ready to race. This is clearly not an easy task and we want to win badly and the work ethic shows here with the group. I need to focus on one lap at a time and give Jim O, Glen and Nick as much feedback as I can.” 

2017 Season Stats: Four starts; Two round wins; eighth 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

 

Decade after special victory, Todd looks for another Houston trophy

Houston Highlights: One win (2007)

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified ninth; First round defeat (Lost to Alexis DeJoria in the first round)

2016 SpringNationals Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified 12th; First round defeat (Lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

Quotable: “The victory at Houston ten years ago was very special, and I hope the DHL Toyota team can have some anniversary magic this weekend. We would love to score the win.”

Career Stats: 152 starts, 151 round wins, 9 wins, 19 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 4 starts, 2 round wins) 2017 Season Stats: Four starts; Two round wins; 10th in the point standings 2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Five finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago, Las Vegas-II, Pomona-II); One no.1 qualifier (Pomona-II); 37 round wins; fourth in the final standings

Noteworthy: Attempting to become the 16th driver in NHRA history with a Top Fuel and Funny Car win; DHL celebrating 10th season of NHRA sponsorship

Media Availability: On Thursday, Todd will be visiting College Station to promote the NHRA SpringNationals in that area.

DeJoria Houston pre-race notes

Last Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified eighth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated J.R. Todd in the first round, lost to Gary Densham in the quarter-finals)

2016 SpringNationals Recap: Qualified second; Quarter-final finish (Defeated John Hale in the first round, lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the quarter-finals)

Career Stats: 120 starts, 83 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 no.1 qualifiers 2017 Season Stats: Four starts; One round win; 12th in the point standings  2016

Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas-I); One semi-final (Bristol); One No. 1 qualifier (Charlotte-I); 13 round wins; 10th in the final standings