Years of anguish, near-misses, and second-place finishes taught valuable lessons. And with the weight of those lessons, Doug Kalitta finally got it done in 2023. However, his first NHRA Top Fuel title came down to a thrilling winner-take-all final round against Leah Pruett. The tingle of victory was there nonetheless – and it came back in 2025. And all he had to do was make a qualifying run and make the field, and the title was his.

In a jaw-dropping climactic twist, the NHRA star did not even have to do that. Mother Nature intervened in Sunday’s Mission Foods Series finale at Pomona Dragstrip. Before the weekend was over, Doug Kalitta had the trophy in his hands – and he had a heart full of gratitude for his team.

NHRA topper crowns his colleagues

Doug Kalitta became the two-time NHRA

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