Post-Race Report
Event 10: NHRA Summernationals
Old Bridge Raceway Township Park
Englishtown, NJ
June 9-11
Kalitta advances to Englishtown semi-final
Race Recap: After suffering just their second opening round loss of the season in Epping, Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools team got more results this weekend at the annual Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey.
Kalitta made one good qualifying pass, but the Mac Tools team made it count with a bonus-point earning 3.733 second pass that gave them the third starting spot. Kalitta’s 329.75 mph pass set the top speed for the second straight event after the Mac Tools’ team record-setting run in Epping.
With the short field, Kalitta endured a tough test in round one as the Mac Tools Toyota lined up against local Dom Lagana. Lagana made a nice pass, but Kalitta’s Mac Tools ride was away first and set low elapsed time of the first round giving Kalitta lane choice in the second round.
His second round opponent would prove to be Tony Schumacher. Kalitta again launched first, and led at every increment down the track as the Mac Tools team again set low elapsed time of the second round.
With lane choice in the semi-finals, Kalitta picked the left lane. Texan Steve Torrence was in the other. Due to mechanical issues, Kalitta was unable to run as strong as he had in runs past and Torrence was able to claim the round win cutting Kalitta’s day short.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 3 (3.733 sec., 329.75 mph)
E1: Kalitta defeated Lagana – 3.762 sec., 326.79 mph to 3.865 sec., 319.37 mph
E2: Kalitta defeated Schumacher – 3.805 sec., 325.37 mph to 3.900 sec., 299.20 mph
E3: Kalitta defeated by Torrence – 3.854 sec., 319.37 mph to 3.827 sec., 322.42 mph
Quotable: “Definitely wanted to score the win today with this Mac Tools Toyota. We have proved that we have a strong hot weather tune-up and I am excited to continue this run in Bristol. Hopefully we get the win there.”
Point Standings: Fifth; trails Tony Schumacher by 118 points for fourth; leads Brittany Force by 39 points for sixth
Problems down track end Langdon’s Summernationals run early
Race Recap: The Global Electronic Technology team scored their first semi-final of the season in Epping and Englishtown looked promising in qualifying.
Langdon earned the fourth starting spot, his highest in six races with Team Kalitta, with a stout 3.734 second pass in the evening session on Friday. The Global Electronic Technology team, led by Connie Kalitta and Rob Flynn, learned from each session, and were focused on the first round matchup with Scott Palmer.
Langdon got the jump on Palmer on the starting line and was steadily pulling away, however, the Global Electronic Technology team started seeing tire smoke at around half track and Palmer was able to drive around.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.734 sec., 326.79 mph)
E1: Langdon defeated by Palmer – 4.270 sec., 196.82 mph to 3.888 sec., 319.67 mph
Quotable: “We just missed it there. We should not have smoked the tires. We needed that round against Palmer, but what do you do. We will play the hand we were dealt; we will head to Bristol with this Global Electronic Technology Toyota team and start making up ground again when we get there.”
Point Standings: 11th; trails Scott Palmer by 103 points for 10th
Coughlin Jr. loses close first round race
Race Recap: After a solid round win in Epping, Troy Coughlin Jr. and the SealMaster team were excited to continue their run in Englishtown.
Coughlin Jr. continued to have a solid qualifying run as he made four passes down the race track with each pass in the 3.8-second range. The tuning trio of Jim Oberhofer, with assistance from Nick Casertano and Glen Huszar, delivered a top three performance in the final qualifying session, giving Coughlin Jr. a bonus point and the 10th starting spot.
Coughlin and the SealMaster team drew last week’s winner Brittany Force in round one. The SealMaster driver moved first and the race was close throughout. Force took the lead for the 330 foot mark and she was able to close it out at the finish line sending Coughlin Jr. home in the first round.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 10 (3.800 sec., 320.66mph)
E1: Coughlin Jr. defeated by Force – 3.852 sec., 309.91 mph to 3.809 sec., 312.78 mph
Quotable: “We’re making runs down the racetrack and gathering great data for Jim O, Nick and Glen. I need work on my downtown focus and keep this SealMaster Toyota in the groove better as well.”
Point Standings: Eighth; trails Clay Millican by 108 points for seventh, leads Terry McMillen by 20 points for ninth
Todd and the DHL team take opening round loss
Race Recap: The longest stretch run of the season continued at a special place for the DHL team and driver J.R. Todd: Englishtown, New Jersey for the Summernationals.
After reaching the line on their current tune-up, co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith went back to the drawing board and tried some new combinations to open up different set-up possibilities as the DHL Toyota team progresses throughout the summer. The early runs were a struggle, but the final qualifying pass showed promise.
The first Sunday matchup was Robert Hight. Todd’s DHL Toyota Camry moved first with a class-leading reaction time, but was immediately into tire smoke ending Todd’s Summernationals run.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 15 (4.059 sec., 315.86 mph)
E1: Todd defeated by Hight – 13.961 sec., 64.63 mph to 4.880 sec., 189.10 mph
Quotable: “It is part of the growing process. We did some different things that we have not yet this season. Once we get ironed out, we will be in good shape with this DHL Toyota.”
Point Standings: Eighth; trails Tommy Johnson Jr. by 133 points for seventh; leads Tim Wilkerson by 17 points for ninth