Pre-Race Report Event 18: U.S. Nationals Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Ind.

Kalitta looks for two Indy trophies

Indianapolis Highlights: Two finals (2008, 2004); Two No.1 qualifiers (2004, 2000)

Last Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified third; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Terry Haddock in the first round, lost to Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals)

2016 Indianapolis Recap: Qualified sixth; Semifinalist (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round and Brittany Force in the quarterfinals, lost to Steve Torrence in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “I am excited to get to Indianapolis for the U.S. Nationals! The Mac Tools team has been working hard, and I know we will have a car that contend for both the Traxxas Shootout and race titles.”

Career Stats: 451 starts, 610 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); 21 round wins; sixth in the standings

Noteworthy: Kalitta is the only driver in Top Fuel to ever earn a Traxxas Shootout spot by his point standing, which he has done twice; Kalitta is looking for his first Indianapolis win, one of three tracks he has yet to win at (Epping, Charlotte)

Former U.S. Nationals champion Langdon makes plans for third crown

Indianapolis Highlights: One Top Fuel win (2013); One Top Fuel No.1 qualifier (2012); One Super Gas win (2010)

Last Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified tenth; First round loss (Lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

2016 Indianapolis Recap (w/ DSR): Qualified seventh; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Leah Pritchett in the first round, lost to Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals)

Quotable: “We made some good runs in testing with the Global Electronic Technology car. Coming off of Brainerd, we had a tough race out there with some gremlins in the car. The guys got all that fixed, so we were able to focus on the car and get it back to its form. We made some great runs, and are looking forward Q1 on Friday night.”

Career Stats: 198 starts, 238 round wins, 14 wins, 28 finals, 18 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: 13 starts; Eight 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; Langdon will clinch a spot in the Countdown for the Championship by qualifying for the U.S. Nationals; Langdon will be a part of Kalitta Motorsports press conference at 6pmEST on Friday evening

Crampton makes Kalitta debut

Indianapolis Highlights: One win (2014)

Last Event Recap (Fall Pomona 2016 w/Morgan Lucas Racing [MLR]): Qualified ninth; Quarterfinalist (Defeated Brittany Force in the first round, lost to J.R. Todd in the quarterfinals)

2016 Indianapolis Recap (w/ MLR): Qualified 11th; First round loss (Lost to Doug Kalitta in the first round)

Quotable: “It is definitely exciting to be racing a Top Fuel dragster in Indianapolis for Connie and SealMaster. To be racing with a top notch team like this one gives me a great amount of confidence going into my first race weekend of the year. The goal is to go some rounds and have a good race.”

Career Stats: 72 starts, 70 round wins, Seven wins, Eight finals, Five no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: Season debut

Noteworthy: Joined Kalitta Motorsports on Monday to drive for SealMaster Top Fuel dragster; Crampton will compete in the final seven events of the season for Kalitta Motorsports; 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.

Record-breaking Todd desires Indianapolis success

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

2016 Indianapolis Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified ninth; Semifinalist (Defeated Morgan Lucas in the first round and Clay Millican in the quarterfinals, lost to Tony Schumacher in the semifinals)

Quotable: “After the way we ran last weekend in testing, I am really excited to get back on track on Friday night. I know the track conditions will be different, but still we learned a lot with the DHL Toyota Camry that has excited for the weekend. Hopefully, we can move up some spots in the Countdown and get the win on Monday.” 

Career Stats: 165 starts, 161 round wins, 10 wins, 20 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 17 starts; One win (Sonoma); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma); 12 round wins)

2017 Season Stats: 17 starts; One win (Sonoma); Two finals (Charlotte-I, Sonoma); 12 round wins; ninth in the point standings

Noteworthy: Todd is the first driver in NHRA history to have qualified for the Traxxas Shootout in both Top Fuel (2015) and Funny Car (2017); Todd is an Indiana native (grew up in Lawrenceburg, Ind.); Todd is currently 136 points ahead of 11th-place Cruz Pedregon in the point standings; he will clinch his spot in the standings by holding a 126 point lead ahead of Pedregon at the close of qualifying

DeJoria Indianapolis pre-race notes

Indianapolis Highlights: One win (2014)

Last Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified 10th; Race Winner (Defeated Tim Wilkerson in the first round, Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinals, John Force in the semi-finals and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final)

2016 Indianapolis Recap: Qualified 10th; First round loss (Lost to Del Worsham in the first round)

Career Stats: 128 starts; 92 round wins; Five wins; Eight finals, Four no.1 qualifiers

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