Six times . He was runner-up six times . Doug Kalitta is a runner up no more – he is the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel champion . And for good measure , he ’ s also the In N Out Burger NHRA Finals race winner , taking his third win of the season in his Mac Tools Toyota dragster . Kalitta entered the weekend in second place in points just 15 markers behind Steve Torrence and four points ahead of third-place Leah Pruett . Chances were excellent this battle for the championship would go down to the final round , and that ’ s exactly what happened .
“ It ’ s incredible the way the points thing worked out to come down to that last run ,” the 2023 champion said . “ I just stayed focused . It was obviously a big round , and it played out just perfectly . I got to the end of the track and was like , ‘ I cannot believe these guys are still looking at me and high fiving ’ because unfortunately , I missed the win light . Everybody was down there , and it was something I looked forward to all my life . It was a hell of a drag race , and it was nice to get the win .”
Kalitta qualified No . 5 and defeated Dan Mercier , Josh Hart , Justin Ashley , and Leah Pruett on his way to the winner ’ s circle and the Top Fuel championship . After Mike Salinas lost in the first
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round , Justin Ashley moved to fourth in points , and the top-four drivers in points advanced to the semifinals .
Kalitta had lane choice over Ashley ; points leader Steve Torrence had lane choice over Pruett . Kalitta defeated Ashley and Pruett defeated Torrence , setting up the final round between
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Pruett and Kalitta . The final round was “ winner-take-all ” with the race winner also winning the championship . Kalitta left the starting line first and never looked back , winning with a 3.673-second pass to Pruett ’ s 3.720 to win the race and claim the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel season title . |
PHOTOGRAPHS BY NHRA AND KALITTA MOTORSPORTS |