Phoenix: Doug Kalitta preview

Kalitta geared up to rebound in Phoenix.

Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 17, 2003 -- The whispers heard floating around the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series pits are that the Mac Tools dragster is one of the strongest racecars on the tour, but not very consistent. Driver Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools/Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster team are ready to set the record straight this weekend at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Int'l Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., near Phoenix, Feb. 20-23.

After blazing to a personal best performance with a 4.482-second, 332.18-mph blast down the quarter-mile in qualifying for the 2003 season-opener in Pomona, Calif., the Mac Tools team frustratingly left Pomona Raceway with a first round loss. Heading into the second national event of the 23-event schedule, Team Kalitta hopes that their mechanical demons have been exorcised so that they may prove to the drag racing world what they already know -- that they are capable of setting records every pass down the racetrack.

"It's a shame what happened in the first round at Pomona," said Kalitta. "The Mac Tools dragster was on another great pass when a lifter broke and sent us home early and very disappointed. In our sport, things like that happen, but we try our best to keep those flukes from getting us down. We were low qualifiers and ready to set the world on fire. Now, we'll go to Phoenix and do it again, but hopefully we will go home after winning this time."

Qualifying for the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals begins Friday. Final eliminations roll off the starting line for the 16-car Top Fuel dragster contingent Sunday morning.

Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals Television Coverage (subject to change): Feb. 8 ESPN2: Qualifying 11:30 p.m. -- 1:30 a.m. (ET) Feb. 9 ESPN2: Eliminations 9:00 p.m. -- 11:00 p.m. (ET)

-km0