Kalitta Fails to Qualify for 70th Anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis
Doug Kalitta, JR Todd, and Shawn Langdon Fail to Make the Field at Historic Event
Trio of Top-Ten Contenders Miss Cut in Front of Packed Grandstands at Lucas Oil Raceway
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - In a stunning upset, three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta failed to qualify for the prestigious 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park outside Indianapolis, Indiana.
Kalitta, the winningest driver this season with three victories, fell short of securing a spot in the 16-car field after posting a disappointing 3.938-second pass at 303.66 mph during Friday's qualifying session.
Joining Kalitta on the sidelines were fellow Toyota Top Fuel drivers JR Todd and Shawn Langdon. Todd, the 2018 Top Fuel world champion, could only muster a 3.979-second pass at 308.44 mph, while Langdon's best effort was a 3.998-second pass at 286.74 mph.
The trio's failure to qualify marks a significant setback in their respective championship pursuits. Kalitta currently sits second in the standings, while Todd is fourth and Langdon is ninth.
The U.S. Nationals is the most prestigious event on the NHRA calendar, attracting the top drivers and teams from across the country. The race weekend marks the halfway point of the season and is often a turning point in the championship battle.
The DNQs by Kalitta, Todd, and Langdon open the door for other drivers to make a move in the standings. Current points leader Brittany Force, who qualified second with a 3.698-second pass at 331.89 mph, is now the favorite to win the event and extend her lead in the championship chase.
Other contenders who could benefit from the trio's absence include Antron Brown, who qualified third, and Mike Salinas, who qualified fifth.
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