Yahoo Autos NHRA U.S. Nationals Final Qualifying, Monday Pairings: Doug Kalitta Fails to Qualify
True to history, the NHRA’s Toyota U.S. Nationals already has delivered totally unexpected drama at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
Doug Kalitta, the reigning Top Fuel series champion and points leader for the past six races, failed Sunday to make the 16-car grid for Monday’s final race of the regular season.
What’s worse for him, he was bumped from the field by his own Kalitta Motorsports teammate and No. 2-ranked driver Shawn Langdon, who had to sweat out his own nail-biting moment in the next pairing during the fifth and final qualifying session. Jasmine Salinas had a chance to bump out Langdon, but the Top Fuel rookie lost traction early in her run (but held her composure when Dan Mercier, in the opposite lane, left the starting line too early).
Before the final session, Kalitta—who has had five No. 1 starts and three victories in five final-round appearances this year—said, “Last year, Antron Brown got in on the fifth session and won the race. That’s the kind of mojo I’m needing. We should be good.”
He did make the field for a few minutes with a 3.793-second run, by Langdon relegated him to the sidelines in the next pairing.
After experiencing his first failure to qualify since the October 2010 event at Las Vegas, 302 races ago, Kalitta said, “Obviously my theory didn’t quite come true” and said he would be cheering for Langdon when eliminations begin Monday morning.
Langdon said, “All we need is one run to get in.” And that one run didn’t give him complete satisfaction. He said, “We’re better than this. You got to do what you got to do for your team. We’ve got a good car capable of winning.”
At the same time, he knew that “we’re on the hot seat now,” as Salinas sat in the water box, waiting to top Langdon’s bump-spot elapsed time of 3.784 seconds. But she smoked the tires and clocked a 4.142-second E.T., handing a relieved Langdon the last berth in the field.
Kalitta won the U.S. Nationals in 2019, and Langdon is a two-time winner (2013, 2020).
NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis
Final Qualifying
Monday's First-Round Pairings
Monday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the 14th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Sunday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.693 seconds, 333.08 mph vs. 16. Shawn Langdon, 3.784, 320.36; 2. Tony Stewart, 3.707, 331.04 vs. 15. Doug Foley, 3.776, 313.80; 3. T.J. Zizzo, 3.716, 332.67 vs. 14. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.776, 327.51; 4. Antron Brown, 3.723, 331.94 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.774, 331.12; 5. Tripp Tatum, 3.729, 328.54 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.772, 326.63; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.736, 332.84 vs. 11. Billy Torrence, 3.764, 332.34; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.738, 332.84 vs. 10. Dan Mercier, 3.763, 319.75; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.739, 326.32 vs. 9. Shawn Reed, 3.755, 325.53.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Doug Kalitta, 3.793, 329.10; 18. Jasmine Salinas, 3.814, 317.64; 19. Krista Baldwin, 3.863, 285.29; 20. Lex Joon, 3.927, 313.95.
Funny Car -- 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.855, 328.38 vs. 16. Chris King, Dodge Charger, 4.079, 302.21; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.871, 336.23 vs. 15. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.046, 303.30; 3. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.877, 329.10 vs. 14. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.008, 321.04; 4. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.890, 327.82 vs. 13. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.006, 311.70; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.896, 331.28 vs. 12. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.986, 292.58; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.901, 325.53 vs. 11. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.931, 315.49; 7. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.901, 313.37 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.918, 323.12; 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.908, 327.66 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.911, 323.50.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Dave Richards, 4.105, 297.94; 18. Justin Schriefer, 6.801, 99.59.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.575, 207.88 vs. 16. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.628, 205.72; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.592, 207.11 vs. 15. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.625, 207.27; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.598, 207.50 vs. 14. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.624, 205.82; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.598, 206.70 vs. 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.623, 205.94; 5. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.600, 207.59 vs. 12. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.623, 206.54; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.601, 208.07 vs. 11. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.616, 205.51; 7. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.602, 207.62 vs. 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.616, 206.39; 8. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.603, 207.43 vs. 9. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.609, 206.92.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Deric Kramer, 6.640, 205.26; 18. Chris McGaha, 6.652, 207.24; 19. Derrick Reese, 6.668, 206.54; 20. Larry Morgan, 6.670, 206.67; 21. Kenny Delco, 6.705, 205.76.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.809, 197.71 vs. 16. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.326, 181.06; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.816, 196.90 vs. 15. Ron Tornow, Victory, 7.058, 190.46; 3. John Hall, Beull, 6.830, 198.76 vs. 14. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 7.012, 191.73; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.834, 196.64 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.008, 191.59; 5. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.856, 199.29 vs. 12. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.998, 193.54; 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.859, 197.94 vs. 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.954, 192.55; 7. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.864, 196.64 vs. 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.935, 194.60; 8. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.887, 195.73 vs. 9. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.929, 193.52.
