Pre-Race Report Event 18: Carolina Nationals zMax Dragway Charlotte, NC

Kalitta focused on first Charlotte win

Charlotte Highlights: Three finals (Fall 2016, Fall 2010, Spring 2010); One No.1 qualifier (Fall 2016)

Last Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified fifth; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round, lost to Tony Schumacher in the quarterfinals)

2016 Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified first; Finalist (Defeated Ike Maier in the first round, Leah Pritchett in the quarterfinals and Wayne Newby in the semifinals, lost to Antron Brown in the final)

Quotable: “The Mac Tools team is excited to get the Countdown rolling. I know we are capable of running for the title. We are focused on starting the last six races strong with a great effort this weekend in Charlotte for the Carolina Nationals.”

Career Stats: 452 starts; 611 round wins (ninth all-time); 42 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel); 89 finals; 48 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

2017 Season Stats: Two finals (Pomona-I, Norwalk); One no.1 qualifier (Norwalk); 22 round wins; fifth in the standings

Noteworthy: Kalitta is looking for his first Charlotte win, one of three tracks he has yet to win at (Epping, Indianapolis); Kalitta has clinched his 20th straight top ten points finish, he has never finished outside of the top ten in the standings

Langdon hits milestone with WIX Filters as primary sponsor

Charlotte Highlights: One win (Fall 2012); Two finals (Spring 2014, Fall 2009); Three No.1 qualifiers (Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Fall 2012)

Last Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified ninth; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Brittany Force in the first round, lost to Kebin Kinsley in the quarterfinals)

2016 Carolina Nationals Recap (w/ DSR): Qualified fifth; First round loss (Lost to Wayne Newby in the first round)

Quotable: “It is a big weekend going into Charlotte, the first race of the Countdown. We have a good opportunity to turn the car around. We have had a good car the last couple races, and now it is time to show it. It will be exciting to have WIX Filters on the side, especially since it is their home race. We are focused on putting on a good showing for WIX and Global Electronic Technology and starting the Countdown strong.”

Career Stats: 199 starts; 239 round wins; 14 wins; 28 finals; 18 no.1 qualifiers

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

Noteworthy: By qualifying for the Carolina Nationals, Langdon will make his 200th career raceday start; Despite missing four races, Langdon clinched a Countdown for the Championship spot in Indianapolis; Langdon will campaign the colors of WIX Filters this weekend before returning to the Global Electronic Technology scheme in Reading; Langdon scored his first Top Fuel win Charlotte five years ago

Crampton planning on scoring wins

Last Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified 12th; First round loss (Lost to Doug Kalitta in the first round)

2016 Carolina Nationals Recap (w/ MLR): Qualified eighth; First round loss (Lost to Leah Pritchett in the first round)

Quotable: “The SealMaster Toyota team had a solid start in the U.S. Nationals and I really look forward to getting back into the seat in Charlotte. I know we have a great machine that will be really competitive at the Carolina Nationals this weekend.”

Career Stats: 73 starts; 70 round wins; Seven wins; Eight finals; Five no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: One start

Noteworthy: Joined Kalitta Motorsports prior to the U.S. Nationals to drive for SealMaster Top Fuel dragster for the remainder of the season; Crampton is the 2014 NHRA Auto Club Road to the Future winner; In 2015, Crampton earned five wins and finished third in the final point standings

Todd looks to continue recent hot streak in Charlotte

Charlotte Highlights: Two finals (Spring 2017 – FC, Fall 2015 – TF); Two no. 1 qualifiers (Spring 2015, Fall 2014)

Last Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified sixth; Race Winner (Defeated Brian Stewart in the first round, Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinals, Tim Wilkerson in the semifinals and Ron Capps in the final)

2016 Carolina Nationals Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified sixth; First round loss (Lost to Pat Dakin the first round)

Quotable: “We’re excited to get the Countdown to the Championship started this weekend in Charlotte. The DHL guys have won this event in the past and I’d love to go there and kick off the playoff with a win.”

Career Stats: 166 starts, 165 round wins, 11 wins, 21 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 18 starts; Two wins (Sonoma, Indianapolis); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis); 16 round wins)

2017 Season Stats: 18 starts; Two wins (Sonoma, Indianapolis); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis); 16 round wins; eighth in the point standings

Noteworthy: Todd could hold both the Top Fuel and Funny Car track records by the end of the weekend; he set the zMax Dragway Top Fuel Track Record in 2015 (3.713 seconds); Todd’s DHL team scored the Carolina Nationals win in 2015 en route to the Funny Car title; Kalitta Motorsports has won three of the last four Funny Car races (Todd – Sonoma and Indianapolis, DeJoria – Brainerd)

DeJoria Charlotte pre-race notes

Charlotte Highlights: Two no. 1 qualifiers (Spring 2016, Fall 2014)

Last Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified ninth; First round loss (Lost to Ron Capps in the first round)

2016 Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified fourth; First round loss (Lost to John Bojec in the first round)

Career Stats: 131 starts; 92 round wins; Five wins; Eight finals; Four no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: 14 starts; One win (Brainerd); 10 round wins; 11th in the point standings