TOP FUEL

Points leader Doug Kalitta drove the “Big Red” Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster to his second victory of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Kalitta’s first trip to the Seattle Winner’s circle marks the 35th NHRA Top Fuel event win for the 17-year nitro veteran and ties him for fifth with drag racing legend Don Garlits on the all-time NHRA Top Fuel wins list.

“That’s something that’s very special to me,” Kalitta, a 49-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. “I grew up idolizing Connie (Kalitta, team owner, drag racing icon and Doug’s uncle) and Garlits, so to be mentioned in the same breath with both of them is truly an honor.”

Kalitta, whose first win of the 2014 season came in Gainesville, Fla. in March, defeated Mike Salinas, Troy Buff, and reigning NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Shawn Langdon en route to an epic final round match-up between No. 1 and No. 2 in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points, Kalitta and Antron Brown.

“We knew the final was going to be a hard fight, but I’m always extremely confident in my Mac Tools team and they gave me a great race car yet again. Winning against anybody is tough these days because the competition level in Top Fuel is so high, but getting past Antron is even tougher.”

Leaving Washington, Kalitta, who has now raced in nine Top Fuel championship rounds this season and 77 in his career, retains the Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points lead, which is now 76 over Brown with only two events remaining in the regular season of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Tony Schumacher, who qualified No. 1, was defeated in the semifinals by teammate Brown, but was able to secure his berth in the Countdown to the Championship. He was the only Top Fuel driver to clinch a position in the playoffs at the event.