Doug Kalitta has been down this road before. This year, he's hoping that the end of that road has different look to it.
The next milepost on that road is this weekend's Texas NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex at Ennis, Tex.
The 59-year-old NHRA Top Fuel Dragster pilot with Michigan roots has come from almost nowhere to becoming the driver to beat in the Countdown to the Championship—the NHRA playoffs. He came into the six-race Countdown winless since 2020, and he finished a rather modest sixth place in the regular-season standings a full 353 points behind regular-season champ Justin Ashley.
Following the points reset for the Countdown, Kalitta has notched wins at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa., and at Charlotte on his way to the lead in the championship standings. He's 47 points up on Leah Pruett and 51 ahead of four-time Top Fuel king Steve Torrence.
Kalitta's win at Maple Grove was the 50th of his storied career. It's the most wins for anyone in the NHRA nitro ranks without a championship.
Ask Kalitta about the stunning season turnaround, and he barely cracks a smile. If there's a secret to the turnaround, Kalitta isn't saying. The passion is still there. It's in his genes.
"The passion to win, obviously, is high on my list when you're in the seat," Kalitta said. "My daughter (Avery) plays for the University of Michigan soccer and when she gets out on the field, she turns on the heat and reminds me a lot of that, as well.
"I've been fortunate to be able to race the Top Fuel and the Sprint Car stuff for a number of years and I love all this stuff. I just have a passion for it."
Kalitta is often mentioned as the driver with the most wins without a championship. He's been close, with six runner-up season finishes to his credit. The turnaround and that path to a possible championship this year has been orchestrated, Kalitta says, by crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen.
"Yeah, it would be good to pinpoint exactly," Kalitta says when asked if he could point to what's changed for the team that's led to the almost instant success in the Countdown. "For whatever reason, it just took us a little bit of time to find, I guess, consistency more than anything, with those two Countdown races.
"Whatever it is, obviously, I'm happy that it's going well."
Okay, Doug. Seriously, what are Alan and Brian doing different these days? Lucky socks, maybe? Someone wearing a funny hat in the pits? A rabbit's foot in the ol' firesuit? A bowl of Lucky Charms everyday during the Countdown for breakfast (after all, they're magically delicious)?
"They probably wouldn't tell me if I asked," Kalitta said. "I guess I really don't know the answer to that. I think it's the sheer will of everybody on my team. Really, I think that's probably the answer.
"This is a great opportunity and we're just trying to take advantage of it."
NHRA Points Standings
Point standings (top 10) following the 12th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 18th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 2,348; 2. Leah Pruett, 2,301; 3. Steve Torrence, 2,297; 4. Justin Ashley, 2,271; 5. Antron Brown, 2,252; 6. Mike Salinas, 2,224; 7. Brittany Force, 2,210; 8. Clay Millican, 2,196; 9. Tony Schumacher, 2,163; 10. Austin Prock, 2,162.
Funny Car
1. Bob Tasca III, 2,358; 2. Robert Hight, 2,352; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,345; 4. Ron Capps, 2,325; 5. Chad Green, 2,206; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,175; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 2,164; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 2,163; 9. John Force, 2,160; 10. Alex Laughlin, 2,143.
Pro Stock
1. Erica Enders, 2,331; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,306; 3. Matt Hartford, 2,293; 4. Dallas Glenn, 2,267; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 2,258; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,224; 7. Deric Kramer, 2,215; 8. Kyle Koretsky, 2,186; 9. Camrie Caruso, 2,154; 10. Bo Butner, 2,152.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Gaige Herrera, 2,430; 2. Matt Smith, 2,331; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,304; 4. Eddie Krawiec, 2,301; 5. Chase Van Sant, 2,222; 6. Angie Smith, 2,203; 7. Jianna Evaristo, 2,170; 8. Steve Johnson, 2,139; 9. Marc Ingwersen, 2,137; 10. Kelly Clontz, 2,117.
