Pre-Race Report Event 13: Mile High Nationals Bandimere Speedway Morrison, Colo.

Doug Kalitta Pre Race.JPG

Doug Kalitta Pre Race.JPG 

Kalitta plans for second Mile-High win

Denver Highlights: One win (2010); Four finals (2009, 2003, 2001, 1999); Two No.1 qualifiers (2006, 2002)

Last Event Recap (Chicago): Qualified 10th; First round loss (Lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

2016 Denver Recap: Qualified eighth; First round loss (Lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round)

Quotable: “The Mac Tools team is excited to get back on track in Denver. We are focused on starting the Western Swing strong at Bandimere and taking that momentum through Sonoma and Seattle.”

Career Stats: 447 starts, 606 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); 17 round wins; fifth in the standings

Noteworthy: Kalitta and his family have claimed six wins at Bandimere Speedway. Connie won in 1984 and 1985 and Scott claimed victory 1994, 1995 and 2005.

 Shawn Langdon Pre Race.JPG

Langdon wants to be latest Kalitta driver to claim victory on the mountain

Last Event Recap (Chicago): Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (Defeated Terry McMillen in the first round, lost to Clay Millican in the quarterfinals)

2016 Denver Recap (w/ DSR): Qualified seventh; Quarterfinal finish (Defeated Leah Pritchett in the first round, lost to Antron in the quarterfinals)

Quotable: “Looking forward to get going on the Western Swing. Kalitta always runs strong at Denver. I have some great memories there as I claimed the National Junior Dragster championship there, but have yet to get a win in Top Fuel. I would like to mark that off the list and get the Global Electronic Technology car in the winners circle this weekend.”

Career Stats: 194 starts, 237 round wins, 14 wins, 28 finals, 18 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: Nine starts; Seven 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; claimed National Junior Dragster Championship 20 years ago at Bandimere Speedway

 Troy Couglin Pre Race.jpg

Coughlin Jr. faces first Denver race

Noteworthy: 14th 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 113 career wins

Last Event Recap (Norwalk): Qualified 15th; First round loss (Lost to Leah Pritchett in the first round)

Quotable: “The SealMaster Toyota is ready for the first stop in on the Western Swing in Denver. I have the ultimate faith in my SealMaster team and I know we will be ready to run strong at the Mile High Nationals.”

2017 Season Stats: 13 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

 JR Todd Pre Race.jpg

Todd returns to the site of first career win

Denver Highlights: Two wins (2014, 2006)

Last Event Recap (Chicago): Qualified 14th; Quarterfinal finish (Defeated Courtney Force in the first round, lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the quarterfinals)

2016 Denver Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified seventh; Finalist (Defeated T.J. Zizzo in the first round, Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals and Tony Schumacher in the semifinals, lost to Antron Brown in the final)

Quotable: “It is good to be going back to a track where I’ve had past success. The Kalitta’s always send to run well there too. We want to kick off the Western Swing with some good runs in qualifying and round wins on Sunday in the DHL Toyota.”

Career Stats: 161 starts, 156 round wins, 9 wins, 19 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 12 starts, One final (Charlotte); Seven round wins)

2017 Season Stats: 13 starts; One final (Charlotte-I); seven round wins; ninth in the point 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; Since joining Team Kalitta, Todd has claimed a victory on the Western Swing in each season (2014-Denver, 2015-Seattle, 2016-Sonoma)

Alexis Dejoria Pre Race.jpg 

DeJoria Denver pre-race notes

Last Event Recap (Chicago): Qualified fifth; Quarterfinal finish (Defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round, lost to Matt Hagan in the quarterfinals)

2016 Denver Recap: Qualified fourth; First round loss (Lost to John Hale in the first round)

Career Stats: 125 starts; 87 round wins; Four wins; Seven finals, Four no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: 10 starts; Five round wins; 14th in the point standings