Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Phoenix Post-Qualifying Report — 3.26.23

DOUG KALITTA CLAIMS NUMBER ONE QUALIFIER AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
Kalitta and Alexis DeJoria Both Win Inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge

CHANDLER, Ariz. (March 26, 2023) – Doug Kalitta drove his Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster to the number one qualifier position with his pass Friday afternoon at 3.679 seconds. The time held through Saturday’s two qualifying sessions for Kalitta’s 51st career number one qualifier. In addition to the number one qualifier position, the Mac Tools team also claimed the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge giving the team a $10,000 bonus.

Alexis DeJoria drove her GR Supra Funny Car to the number two qualifier position with her final pass on Saturday with a time of 3.914 seconds and also won the $10,000 bonus for the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
Race 2 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster1st (3.679)R. Passey
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster6th (3.724)K. Baldwin
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster7th (3.724)T. Schumacher
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster8th (3.729)A. Brown
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster9th (3.739)S. Langdon

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Bob Tasca IIIFord Motorcraft Funny Car1st (3.874)BYE
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car2nd (3.914)J. Todd
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car6th (4.028)A. Laughlin
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car15th (5.332)A. DeJoria

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

What does it mean to win the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and how bad did your team need this win?

“It was awesome that the Mission folks put up this event and it’s been fun all day. We’re just happy to go some rounds and definitely get the win light to come on. Hats off to Allen (Johnson, crew chief) and all my guys on this Mac Tools Toyota car. We’re happy and we’ll just roll into tomorrow and see if we can keep it going.”

When will we see another Wally in your hand and how is the momentum of the race team?

“We’re working on it. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s going on. Just have to be patient apparently because I’ve been trying to get another Wally, but we’re sneaking up on it for sure. Hopefully tomorrow.”

ALEXIS DEJORIA, Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, DC Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 2nd

How does this win in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge mean to your and your team?

“Just coming back to this race track after not being here for a while. I had my very first win here in Nitro Funny Car back in 2014 so it just has all these good feelings, good vibes for me. Today, that first round against Matt Hagan, we made it past him and we ran pretty good. It was a hellacious ride at the top end, but my guys are just so badass and they’re the reason that we’re in this position in the first place. I sucked in Gainesville on my reaction times and they gave me a great GR Supra and I’m just really, really blessed right now. I’ve got a great team and a great car. Ran a 3.91 and it’s been a tough weekend trying to get down the track for everybody. Thank you to Mission Foods, I’m so excited, thank you guys! I get to give this $10,000 to my guys today and that’s the best gift ever.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

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