KALITTA EARNS NO. 1 QUALIFIER; LANGDON WINS #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE

Toyota continues #2Fast2Tasty Challenge streak

KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2025) – For the sixth time this season, and the 64th time in his historic career, Doug Kalitta earned the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel, leading the pack for Sunday’s NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. The 2023 world champion posted a blistering 3.671 elapsed time in Friday night’s lone qualifying session to take the top spot for tomorrow. Closely behind Kalitta is his teammate, Shawn Langdon, who sits second in the ladder, with Justin Ashley in sixth and Antron Brown in ninth. 

Langdon also captured the Top Fuel win in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, his fourth of the season and the ninth for Toyota in Top Fuel. Toyota has been victorious in all challenge events this season in either Top Fuel or Funny Car.

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd earned the No. 3 seed after posting a 3.901 time on Friday as he aims for another win tomorrow to couple his triumph in Epping. Ron Capps will start tomorrow as the No. 4 seed in the category, also looking for his second win this season to go with his Bristol win last month.

Eliminations of the NHRA Nationals from Pacific Raceways begin tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. EST with live TV coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST on FOX.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series

Pacific Raceways

NHRA Northwest Nationals

Race 11 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster1stBye
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster2ndC. Ferre
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster6thS. Reed
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster9thC. Millican

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Austin Prock*Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Funny Car1st*D. Winefsky
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car3rdC. Pedregon
Ron Capps NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car4thH. Green

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

What would a win tomorrow mean after the qualifying you had so far this weekend?

“Yeah, that’s what the goal is for sure. Shawn (Langdon) winning the Mission Foods challenge was a good way to start for our team. We’re running well, qualifying well. Will definitely have our heads down and try to go rounds and get to that final. It’ll happen sooner than later and hopefully will tomorrow!”

SHAWN LANGDON, Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 2nd

How important are wins like the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge as we near the Countdown?

“Definitely important for the team. Brian (Husen, crew chief), all the Kalitta Air guys have done a great job giving me such a great Kalitta Air Toyota Top Fuel Dragster all year and it showed today. Obviously, Doug (Kalitta) made a great run there (Q4) and after Doug’s run, I saw Brian get down in there and I was pretty excited about that. We’ll definitely take the win into tomorrow with a lot of confidence.” 

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 3rd

How are you feeling heading into tomorrow?

“The car has made it down the track every round, so that’s been good. We’re getting more and more consistent, and qualifying in the top-five is always a big plus. Would’ve been nice to hold onto No. 1, but at the end of the day, I’d rather have the hat you get for winning the race rather than the one you get for No. 1 qualifier. Tomorrow will be a whole new day. Probably somewhere similar to what the earlier conditions were like today, so that’s good. We have some notes to go off of. Will take it one round at a time and hopefully can come out of here with a win!”