Motor sports: Defending champ Kalitta continuing Sonoma legacy
Doug Kalitta has uncorked enough bottles in the Winner's Circle at Sonoma Raceway during his career so that he might want to consider settling down in Wine Country.
"I'm always happy to come here to Sonoma," Kalitta said. "This has been where I got my first win, so this is some place that's real special for me."
Kalitta earned his first career NHRA Top Fuel victory 28 years ago at Sonoma. He leads all active Top Fuel drivers with six wins at Sonoma after last year's victory. A win on Sunday at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals would make the title race a lot more exciting.
Kalitta is currently second in the standings, 150 points behind Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon.
"Our goal is to have the Kalitta cars 1-2," Langdon said.
Kalitta made the quickest run in the opening qualifying session, edging Langdon with a run of 3.714 at 337.07 in his 12,000-horsepower Aflac dragster for Kalitta Motorsports. Kalitta's fast round stood up after the late qualifying session for Top Fuel was postponed due to a 10 p.m. curfew. Speeds were slower Saturday afternoon, but Kalitta successfully defended his top qualifier spot.
"It's pretty tricky out there right now, and I hope my guys have a handle on things for (Sunday)," Kalitta said. "This is a special place for me and I really hope we can get something going for tomorrow."
Langdon did win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, collecting a nice bit of bonus cash, by pedalling his car past veteran Clay Millican during afternoon qualifying. Langdon and Millican were both struggling to control their cars, until Langdon got back on the gas late for a 4.491 ET at 227.50 mph to surge past his rival.
"One thing about this Kalitta Motorsports group is they're never satisfied," Langdon said.
First time to the top
Second-year driver Chris Vang was fastest in the Pro Stock class after two sessions Friday, taking the provisional No. 1 spot for the first time in his career with a run of 6.498 at 209.04 in his Prestige Trailers Chevrolet Camaro. With the warmer temperatures Saturday, no one was able to challenge Vang's position as the top qualifier.
Local update
Novato's Hannah Cook was on the mark for her first run Saturday, advancing to the second round in the Top Dragster bracket for the second time this week. She lost in the second round during the NHRA Division 7 races on Thursday.
Hannah Cook headed right back to the starting line to watch her father, Dave Cook, Jr., line up against Richard Okerman in a Top Sportsman race. Dave Cook was fast, but a slow reaction time cost him at the end of the 1,000-foot drag strip.
Petaluma's Marko Perivolaris got a first-round win in Super Gas against Brooke Giacone, with a 9.907 ET at 167.86 mph. Also advancing was Sonoma Raceway and drag racing legend Ted Seipel, who had a 0.032 reaction time to beat Jordan Yeager in a close race.
Beyond borders
NHRA, celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, announced the return of Autodromo of Monterrey to the fold, becoming an official member track as part of NHRA's South Central Division.
Located in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico, the facility has operated a robust drag racing program for decades. Autodromo of Monterrey will be eligible to offer racers in the area the chance to compete for championships in NHRA-sanctioned series.
"The Autodromo of Monterrey team is excited to become an NHRA Member Track and help write a new chapter in the history of drag racing in Mexico," said Autodromo CEO Gilberto Jimenez.
Autodromo of Monterrey is also part of NHRA's expansive track network outside of the United States, joining 12 international tracks in Canada, Bahrain and Puerto Rico.
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