Pre-Race Report Event 18: Carolina Nationals zMax Dragway Charlotte Sept. 16-18

Multi-time Charlotte finalist Kalitta desires a win

Charlotte Highlights: Two finals (2010 Charlotte-1, 2010 Charlotte-2)

2015 Charlotte Event Recap: Qualified 10th; Quarter-Final finish (Defeated Dave Connolly in the first round, lost to Tony Schumacher in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified sixth; Semi-Finalist (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round and Brittany Force in the quarter-finals, lost to Steve Torrence in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “We are excited to get this Countdown for the Championship underway. I am confident in the Mac Tools team and I look forward to these last six races. Every round is important and our goal is to start strong in Charlotte.”

Career Stats: 428 starts, 578 round wins (11th all-time), 41 wins (Fourth all-time in Top Fuel), 85 finals, 46 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

Countdown Stats: Ninth appearance (Kalitta has appeared in every Countdown for the Championship); 48 overall Countdown starts; 2 wins; 1 No. 1 qualifier; 40 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Three no.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk); One final (Pomona); 33 round wins

Point Standings: Second (-30); trails first-place Antron Brown by 30 points, leads third-place Steve Torrence by 10 points

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 15 of 18 events this season; 11 semi-final or better finishes in 17 events this season; more round wins than season round win total from 2015; clinched his 19th consecutive top ten finish; Charlotte is one of three tracks that Kalitta does not own a win (Epping, Indianapolis); Charlotte is also one of two tracks that Kalitta does not own a no.1 qualifier (Bristol)

After last season’s narrow defeat, Todd looks for first zMax trophy

Charlotte Highlights: One final (2015 Charlotte-2); Two No.1 qualifiers (2014 Charlotte-2, 2015 Charlotte-1)

2015 Charlotte Event Recap: Qualified eighth; Finalist (Defeated Shawn Langdon in the first round, Clay Millican in the quarter-finals and Leah Pritchett in the semi-finals, lost to Antron Brown in the finals)

Previous Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified 10th; Semi-Finalist (Defeated Morgan Lucas in the first round and Clay Millican in the quarter-finals, lost to Tony Schumacher in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “We have been able to get a handle on the consistency of the SealMaster Toyota and I am ready for the start of the Countdown. I feel like we have the car where we need it to make moves and have a shot at the title. Charlotte is up first and I would like to go one step further than we did last season.”

Career Stats: 142 starts, 139 round wins, 9 wins, 17 finals, 8 no.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Fourth appearance; third consecutive appearance; 18 Countdown starts; 3 finals; 4 No. 1 qualifiers; 20 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Three finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago); 27 round wins

Point Standings: Sixth (-70); trails fifth-place Brittany Force by 10 points, leads seventh-place Shawn Langdon by 10 points

Noteworthy: Currently has 27 round wins, which is a career-high (previous high was 25; earned 20 round wins in 2015); six semi-final or better finishes in the last seven races; seven straight first round wins; earned at least one no. 1 qualifier in Charlotte every season since joining Team Kalitta

Reigning event champion Worsham plans for a repeat

Charlotte Highlights: Two wins (2015 Charlotte-2 (FC), 2011 Charlotte-1 (TF)); 1 final (2015 Charlotte-1 (FC)); only driver in zMax Dragway history to own a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at the facility

2015 Charlotte Event Recap: Qualified second; Winner (Defeated Dave Richards in the first round, Matt Hagan in the quarter-finals, John Force in the semi-finals and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final)

Previous Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified seventh; Finalist (Defeated Alexis DeJoria in the first round, Dave Richards in the quarter-finals and Ron Capps in the semi-finals, lost to Matt Hagan in the finals)

Quotable: “The DHL Toyota team would like to start the Countdown how we did last season. It set us up for the run we had to the title. This season, the Funny Car class is very strong, so we have to continue to perform.”

Career Stats: 501 starts, 552 round wins, 39 wins (31 in Funny Car, 8 in Top Fuel), 66 finals (55 in Funny Car, 11 in Top Fuel), 20 no.1 qualifiers (13 in Funny Car, 7 in Top Fuel)

Countdown Stats: Seventh appearance (6 in Funny Car, 1 in Top Fuel); Fourth consecutive appearance; 36 overall Countdown starts; eight wins (6 FC, 2 TF); 3 No.1 qualifiers (1 FC, 2 TF); 56 total Countdown round wins (43 FC, 13 TF)

2016 Season Stats: One win (Brainerd); Four finals (Pomona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Indianapolis); Three poles (Norwalk, Sonoma, Seattle); 30 round wins

Point Standings: Second (-30); trails first-place Ron Capps by 30 points, leads third-place Matt Hagan by 10 points

Noteworthy: Three straight final round appearances (scored a win in Brainerd); five straight semi-finals or better; only driver with a TF and FC win at zMax Dragway; 2015 Funny Car Champion, 2011 Top Fuel Champion; one of three drivers with championships in both nitro classes; second in the Funny Car class with 15 first round wins this season

DeJoria Charlotte pre-race notes

Charlotte highlights: Two No. 1 qualifiers (2016 Charlotte-1, 2014 Charlotte-2)

2015 Charlotte Event Recap: Qualified 13th; Semi-Finalist (Defeated Tim Wilkerson in the first round and Shane Westerfield in the second round, lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the semi-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Indianapolis): Qualified 10th; First round defeat (Lost to Del Worsham in the first round)

Career Stats: 111 starts, 81 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 no.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Third consecutive appearance; 12 overall Countdown starts; 2 No.1 qualifiers; 11 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas); One semi-final (Bristol); One no.1 qualifier (Charlotte); 12 round wins

Point Standings: 10th (-110); trails ninth-place Tim Wilkerson by 10 points