Kalitta sets track-record in final qualifying at Summit Nationals

NORWALK — Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta made the fastest run in track history on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park. The Ypsilanti, Mich.-based driver picked up the win in the NHRA Challenge and cemented his No. 1 qualifier position at the 18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk. Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the Challenge, while Prock, Anderson and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the 10th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta stayed red-hot in the loaded Top Fuel ranks, picking up his first specialty race win of the year, going 3.703-seconds at a track-record 337.16 mph in his dragster to defeat Antron Brown's 3.755. It was an impressive performance in a stretch that has been filled with them for the defending world champion. Friday's track-record run of 3.692 held up as well at the home track for Kalitta Motorsports, handing the veteran his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 57th in his career. He opens eliminations against Kyle Wurtzel, looking for his second straight win and third in the past four races. "This just gets you ready on Saturday to go racing, and we're having fun. I think all the drivers — and definitely me — we enjoy having the Mission race and the format," Kalitta said. "The track turned out to be in great shape and the conditions were perfect to put down good numbers," he added. "The way my car is running, I'm just trying to get into a good routine. I'm certainly working at that and trying my best to be consistent. So far this weekend, I've been pretty steady and I'm looking forward to (Sunday)." Justin Ashley jumped to the second spot during the final session, going 3.702 at 330.47, while Brown's 3.717 at 333.33 gave him the third spot. In all, 15 of the 16 qualified dragsters went 3.791 or quicker. Funny Car's Austin Prock enjoyed another spectacular Saturday in a year filled with terrific moments, winning his third straight Mission Challenge — this time over Bob Tasca III with a stellar, track-record pass of 3.853 seconds at 330.55 mph. Tasca left the starting line first and delivered a strong 3.882, but Prock tracked him down to stay on an impressive pace in the Funny Car ranks. The pass was also an improvement from Friday's provisional No. 1 qualifying run, as the Funny Car points leader earned an incredible seventh No. 1 spot in the first 10 races of the season. After winning the past two races, Prock will also look to make it three in a row, opening eliminations against Joe Morrison. Earlier this month in Bristol, Prock also qualified No. 1, won the Challenge and picked up the event win the next day. "This feels really good, and we're very blessed to be in this situation," Prock said. "It's a lot of hard work that goes into making these race cars run like this one has this year. I've said it all year, hats off to my guys, they're making it easy on me. "I can go up there and I believe in my car, and they're giving me opportunities every weekend. It's definitely helped my learning curve." J.R. Todd qualified second with a 3.865 seconds at 332.02 mph, while defending event winner Blake Alexander jumped to third after going 3.874 at 328.14 in the final session. Anderson also made it a clean sweep through two days in Pro Stock, winning his second straight Mission Challenge after going 6.595 at 204.94 in his Summit Racing Camaro to defeat longtime rival Erica Enders in the finals of the specialty race. After missing out on any bonus race wins since last year, the veteran has now won two in a row. He also qualified No. 1 for the third time this year on the strength of Friday's 6.592 at 207.69, putting him in a prime position to sweep the weekend. That would mean a great deal for Anderson, who has 105 career wins and is sporting a special Summit Racing Equipment wrap this weekend. He opens eliminations against Ohio native Larry Morgan. "This has been a great week," Anderson said. "I got here on Wednesday morning, spent all day at Summit and got to chat with all the great employees again. It was great to see them all and it fires you up, it makes you feel good. "To come over here to Summit Motorsports Park with the wrap I have on my car, it's just a proud weekend for me. We're off to a great start and we had another great day today. The Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, that's what I'm looking forward to, that's the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for me." Enders, the defending world champion, stayed second, but improved to a 6.601 at 207.15, making that run in the specialty race final. Deric Kramer's 6.605 at 208.17 from Friday handed him the third spot. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson enjoyed a special moment, picking up his first win in the Challenge after going 6.819 at 196.87 on his Suzuki against John Hall, who beat Gaige Herrera in the opening round. Gadson took down Hector Arana Jr. earlier in the day, getting past Hall's 6.857 in the finals. Matt Smith earned his third No. 1 qualifier in the past four races, as his track-record run of 6.748 at 201.31 from Friday easily held up. The six-time world champion enjoyed another strong effort in qualifying and will now to look to pick up his first win since September of last year. Since then, Herrera has won the past 10 races, but Smith has plenty of momentum heading into Sunday's eliminations. "We've been No. 1 two other times before this, but we have to get it done on Sunday. We have not done that this year like we need to," Smith said. "Hopefully we can do that tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be a totally different day from what it looks like. "It's going to be cooler and a lot drier. We're just trying to get an MSR bike in the final and see if we can win this thing tomorrow." Angie Smith qualified second with a 6.798 at 200.26, while Herrera took third with a 6.799 at 198.88. Eliminations for the top 16 cars in each class at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.