The NHRA welcomed a new series sponsor with Mission Foods. The series kicked off the opening race event in Gainesville, Florida from March 7 through 10 to start the 74th season of NHRA Mission Drag racing series.
In the Nitro classes two Kalitta Motorsports teammates conquered the fields for the team’s first ever double up just days after a fallen teammate was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, in the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes, two teams picked up right where they left off.
On Thursday, Scott Kalitta, son of legendary driver and owner Connie Kalitta and cousin to reigning series Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta was inducted into the International Motorsports Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Scott Kalitta tragically lost his life in a high-speed accident in 2008 while driving his DHL Funny Car at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. He was a two-time series Top Fuel champion.
In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon scored his first win in more than three years as he marched his way from the number one qualifying spot. In the opening round Langdon took down rookie Cody Krohn with the fourth quickest run of the round at 3.690 et while exploding the engine right at the finish line. He then took out Justin Ashley in round two with the second quickest pass of the round 3.709 et. In the semifinal round Langdon was the only car to make a full pass without smoking the tires with a stellar 3.702 et. His final round opponent would be Billy Torrence. Langdon made short work of Torrence when he smoked the tires and could only watch Langdon put another solid run up on the board with a 3.711 @ 335 mph. This was Langdon’s 25th career win.
In Funny Car, JR Todd took the less stellar approach to capturing the season opener. Todd faced off with Blake Alexander in the opening round and both drivers lost traction and Todd was able to get his DHL Toyota to the finish line first to advance to round two. In round two he would take on three-time champion Ron Capps. In one of the weirdest starting line incidents, Todd inadvertently bumped the throttle pedal early but was able to hold the car from moving as the lights were coming on thus causing Capps to react and hit the throttle too soon, red lighting, which is an automatic disqualification. Todd’s car went up in smoke immediately at the initial throttle bump. In the semifinal round Todd would match up with Bob Tasca. Much like round one, both drivers lost traction and Todd was able to recover his enough to get to the finish line first. In the final round Todd would take on Funny Car rookie Austin Prock, who moved from the John Force racing dragster to Robert Hight’s Funny Car. Prock had the best car every round but made his worst run in the final when his car lost traction. Meanwhile in the other lane Todd ran his best run and only run all the way down the track without losing traction, posting a 3.889 @ 329 mph. Saving the best for last, Todd scored his 22nd career win.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders reminded the field why she is the six-time reigning series champion as she was the quickest car every round of eliminations. In round one, she took out rookie Kelly Murphy to advance to round two. Round two she took out teammate Aaron Stanfield. She then took down five-time champion Greg Anderson in the semifinals. In the final round she matched up against teammate Christian Cuadra. Enders drove away from Cuadra, who had traction problems when the cars left the starting line, earning her 48th career victory.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning series champion Gaige Herrera dominated the field. He qualified on the pole and then ran low elapse time every round of eliminations setting both ends of the track record with a 6.629 et @ 204.54 mph. He took out six-time champion Matt Smith in the final round to secure his 12th career win.
