Pre-Race Report
Event 06: NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
zMax Dragway
Charlotte
April 28-30

Kalitta looks to claim first Charlotte Wally
Charlotte Highlights: Three finals (Fall 2016, Fall 2010, Spring 2010); One no. 1 qualifier (Fall 2016)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified third; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Terry McMillen in the first round, lost to Leah Pritchett in the quarter-finals)

2016 4-Wides Recap: Qualified fourth; Third in final quad (Defeated Smax Smith and Scott Palmer in the first quad and Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher in the second quad, lost to Brittany Force in the final quad.)

Quotable: “Charlotte was good to us last season, but we couldn’t just quite get the job done with this Mac Tools team. I would love to get my first Charlotte win this weekend. My team is performing well, and I know we will have a shot at it.”

Career Stats: 439 starts, 597 round wins (10th all-time), 42 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel), 88 finals, 47 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

2017 Season Stats: One final (Pomona-I); 8 round wins; fourth in the standings

2016 Season Stats: Four wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka, Pomona-II); Four no.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-II); Two finals (Pomona-I, Charlotte-II); 44 round wins; second in the final standings

Noteworthy: One of three tracks Kalitta does not own a race win (Epping, Indianapolis); If Kalitta earns one round win, he would pass Bob Glidden for ninth all-time in total round wins; With a race win, Kalitta would become the ninth driver to hit 600 round wins; also will reach 1,000 career rounds competed early this year (currently at 994)

After solid Kalitta debut, Langdon plans to continue run of Charlotte success
Charlotte Highlights: Site of first career win in 2012; One win (Fall 2012); Two finals (Spring 2014, Fall 2009); Three no.1 qualifiers (Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Fall 2012)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified 10th; First round defeat (Lost to Bob Vandergriff in the first round)

2016 4-Wides Recap (w/ DSR): Qualified eighth; First quad defeat (Lost to Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher in the first quad)

Quotable: “Last weekend went great. The Global Electronic Technology team didn’t have the results we were looking for, but we were able to collect data and have some strong runs. For me as a driver, I used last week as a test session because there was a lot of new things happening, from the open cockpit to running procedures, but all the changes were positive changes.”

“Charlotte was the site of my first win in 2012, and we have come close to winning the 4-Wides as well. I am very excited to carry momentum in to zMax Dragway. I know the potential of this Global Electronic Technology dragster and its not a matter of if, but when, we get the win.”

Career Stats: 189 starts, 230 round wins, 14 wins, 28 finals, 18 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: One start; 17th in the point standings

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Bristol, Norwalk, St. Louis); 30 round wins; fifth in the final standings

Noteworthy: Joined Kalitta Motorsports from Don Schumacher Racing after Las Vegas in a full-time third Top Fuel entry; missed the first four events of the 2017 season due to lack of sponsorship; Langdon’s ride will be backed by Global Electronic Technology, the fastest name in credit card processing.

Coughlin Jr. prepared for first 4-Wide start
Noteworthy: Sixth career pro event; a candidate for Auto Club Road to Future trophy (best rookie driver); father is former Pro Mod champion (Troy Coughlin Sr.); uncle is former Pro Stock champion (Jeg Coughlin Jr.)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified 12th; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Brittany Force in the first round, lost to Steve Torrence in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “The SealMaster Toyota team is building by the day and we are all fired up to continue the learning process at the 4-Wides.”

2017 Season Stats: Five starts; Three round wins; eighth in the point standings

Career Info: Five national event wins (Three in Super Gas, Two in Super Comp); 2013 Division III Super Gas Champion; 2015 NHRA Pro Mod Rookie of the Year

Charlotte Top Fuel record holder, Todd, hopes fast times continue to Funny Car ranks
Charlotte Highlights: One Final (Fall 2015); Two no.1 qualifiers (Spring 2015, Fall 2014); Top Fuel Elapsed Time Track Record Holder (3.713 sec.)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified 12th; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round, lost to Robert Hight in the quarter-finals)

2016 4-Wides Recap (Top Fuel): Qualified second; Loss in the second round quad (Defeated Terry McMillen and Chris Karamesines in the first quad, lost to Brittany Force and Antron Brown in the second quad)

Quotable: “The 4-Wide is always a different challenge and it is new to me in Funny Car. The DHL team had won Charlotte in the past so this would be the perfect time for to breakthrough.”

Career Stats: 153 starts, 152 round wins, 9 wins, 19 finals, 9 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 5 starts, 3 round wins)

2017 Season Stats: Five starts; Three round wins; ninth in the point standings

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Five finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago, Las Vegas-II, Pomona-II); One no.1 qualifier (Pomona-II); 37 round wins; fourth in the final standings

Noteworthy: Attempting to become the 16th driver in NHRA history with a Top Fuel and Funny Car win; DHL celebrating 10th season of NHRA sponsorship

PR Contact:

(Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Troy Coughlin Jr., J.R. Todd)
Cody Poor
cody@kalittaracing.com

All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

DeJoria Charlotte pre-race notes
Charlotte Highlights: Last season’s 4-Wide Nationals no.1 qualifier; Two no.1 qualifiers (Spring 2016, Fall 2014)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified eighth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Tim Wilkerson in the first round, lost to Courtney Force in the quarter-finals)

2016 4-Wides Recap: Qualified first; First quad defeat (Lost to Tim Wilkerson and Jeff Diehl in the first quad)

Career Stats: 121 starts, 84 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 no.1 qualifiers

2017 Season Stats: Five starts; Two round wins; 11th in the point standings

2016 Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas-I); One semi-final (Bristol); One No. 1 qualifier (Charlotte-I); 13 round wins; 10th in the final standings