Kalitta Motorsports Team Ready For Battle At Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Through the opening 10 races of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Team Kalitta has established itself as the benchmark in Top Fuel competition. J.R. Todd has been one of the most consistent drivers in Funny Car. This has allowed every driver in the Kalitta Motorsports Camp to be at the top of the points standings in all of the nitro classes.

Langdon enters Sonoma with a commanding 150-point lead over teammate Doug Kalitta after collecting four victories, including an impressive three-race winning streak at Valdosta, Joliet, and Budds Creek. He has also added three runner-up finishes, two semifinal appearances, and five No. 1 qualifying efforts while helping Team Kalitta win five of the season’s first 10 races.

Just as impressive is the team’s overall consistency. Between Langdon and Kalitta, the two dragsters have competed in 37 of a possible 39 elimination rounds this season, underscoring the depth and preparation within the Kalitta Motorsports organization.

Langdon also continues to own the two fastest runs in NHRA history after recording speeds of 345.00 mph and 344.91 mph at the Southern Nationals in Georgia earlier this season.

Shawn Langdon Focused On Maintaining Momentum

While leading the championship by a healthy margin, Langdon knows the key to winning another title is continuing the consistency that has defined his season.

“Our Kalitta Air Careers car has been strong all season, but the biggest thing now is to keep that consistency. Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) likes to throw down; he likes to make really good runs, but he’s learned in the last couple of years. He’s not necessarily just making a throw-down run, but sometimes just making a good run for the conditions. When you get a good handle on the car, you try to hold on to that, and you try to keep the momentum up – that’s the biggest thing.”

Langdon credits the strength of the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization for the team’s remarkable performance throughout 2026.

“It’s just being part of a great team really; (Team Owner) Connie Kalitta sets the way for us and gives us all the resources – everything we feel like we need to be competitive. (General Manager) Chad Head navigates everything and keeps our great sponsors happy. Having great sponsors allows us to have all the equipment we need. (Crew Chief) Alan Johnson on Doug’s team, (Crew Chief), Brian Husen on my team (Crew Chief) Dickie Venables on J.R.’s team put great crews together. Across the board, we have, hands down, one of the best teams out there. These guys are flawless – they don’t make mistakes. We have great team chemistry and a great group of guys. Winning and making good runs solves a lot of problems, but regardless, we have a great group and a great foundation at Kalitta Motorsports.”

Sonoma has always been a favorite stop for Langdon, dating back to his days racing Super Comp.

“I always love going to Sonoma; I grew up racing Super Comp there. There’s always good air so we can make some throw down runs – especially Friday night. We just pray for a couple clouds to stop by (on Sunday), and it’ll be a great weekend. We have to keep making great runs; everybody’s focused on doing their jobs perfectly.”

Langdon owns one victory in two career Top Fuel final-round appearances at Sonoma Raceway and is chasing the 27th national event victory of his career.

Doug Kalitta Looks To Defend His Sonoma Title

If there’s one driver capable of putting pressure on Langdon during the second half of the season, it’s defending Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta.

Kalitta arrives in Sonoma second in points, trailing Langdon by 150 markers while maintaining a comfortable 129-point advantage over third-place Leah Pruett. His 2026 season includes one victory, four runner-up finishes, three semifinal appearances, and two No. 1 qualifiers.

The veteran also returns as the defending Sonoma Nationals champion, a track where he’s enjoyed tremendous success throughout his Hall of Fame career. Kalitta has reached seven final rounds in Wine Country, winning six of them, while also collecting four No. 1 qualifying awards.

With 60 career victories, Kalitta ranks fourth on the all-time Top Fuel wins list and believes Sonoma could be the perfect place to begin another championship charge.

“I think performance wise, the start of the second half of the season is about the time we kind of stepped up our program last year, and I think that’s kind of where we are again this year. Things have been kind of clicking along here lately. Going to Sonoma, probably one of my best tracks, I’m always geeked about going to Sonoma, and it’s Alan’s (Crew Chief Alan Johnson) hometown track, too so it’s just a good place for us. We won the thing last year so hopefully, we can do it again this year.”

Chasing Consistency In The Championship Battle

Kalitta knows catching his teammate won’t be easy, but he also knows exactly what it will take.

“To catch Shawn and those guys, we just need to step up our consistency. Those guys have been a little more consistent than us so we need to step it up a little bit in all areas, and we should be good. We did it last year; going rounds is what we have to do. My guys are doing a great job like they did last year, and I’m comfortable with it.”

Like every elite Top Fuel driver, Kalitta continues to work on sharpening his reaction times.

“We all watch what everybody’s doing with their reaction times, and somehow, you just have to man up and improve. For me, I have to work at it a little bit every day; you try not to go crazy with it because you don’t want to get too focused on it. For me, I have to work at it a little harder these days. Fortunately, this year, it’s been working out for me so it’s one of those things that definitely drives you. Trying to keep up with Shawn (Langdon) over the years, for instance, it’s just a constant process. Drag Racing has always been a humbling sport for everything we do.”

With Sonoma’s cool evening air traditionally producing some of the quickest runs of the season, Kalitta expects another fast weekend.

“I’ve been real fortunate to have some good success in Sonoma over the years, including last year. The conditions there are almost always really good. When the sun goes down, it really cools off, so it’s one of those places where, with our tune-up and everything we’re doing, I think it’ll be a good track for us.”

J.R. Todd Believes His Team Is Ready To Make Its Move At NHRA Sonoma Nationals

The second half of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins this weekend at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, and J.R. Todd believes his team is primed to take another step forward in one of the most competitive Funny Car seasons in recent memory.

Todd enters Sonoma Raceway third in the Funny Car championship standings, just 12 points behind second-place Matt Hagan and only five points ahead of John Force Racing’s Jack Beckman. With only four races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship begins, every qualifying point and every elimination-round win has become increasingly important.

The 2018 Funny Car world champion has consistently been in contention throughout the first half of the season, advancing to at least the semifinals in half of the first 10 races. While Todd is still searching for his first victory of 2026, he believes the DHL Toyota GR Supra team is trending in the right direction.

Consistency Has Todd In Championship Contention

Todd’s 2026 campaign has been built on consistency. He has reached one final round, advanced to four additional semifinals, and heads west firmly in the championship hunt.

That consistency was on display in Norwalk, where the DHL team made five strong runs before missing the tune-up in the quarterfinals. Instead of packing up, the team remained at Summit Motorsports Park for additional testing, continuing its effort to refine a combination that Todd believes is getting closer every race.

For Todd, the progress isn’t accidental.

“There’s been some ups and downs for sure. For me, when I moved over to the Funny Car in 2017, I felt like that was my best opportunity to compete for a championship, just knowing what Del (Worsham) and those guys had done in 2015. It took me a little while to get the hang of the Funny Car thing; I’m still working on that, but it worked out pretty well for us in 2018.”

Building Toward Another Championship Run

Todd sees similarities between the development of his Funny Car program and the evolution of Team Kalitta’s Top Fuel operation.

The addition of Alan Johnson helped elevate Doug Kalitta’s team into championship form, while Brian Husen has transformed Shawn Langdon’s operation into the current points leader. Todd believes his team is following that same blueprint under crew chiefs Dickie Venables and Todd Smith.

“Then, the dragsters had some lean years, so they brought in AJ (Doug Kalitta’s Crew Chief Alan Johnson), but it took a couple of years to get Doug’s car back up to speed. Then (Crew Chief) Brian Husen went over to Shawn’s car. All these things took time, and I feel that’s where our DHL Funny Car is now.

“We brought (Crew Chief) Dickie Venables in last season, and we thought we would hit the ground running and have success. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out that way, but we made more changes this offseason with different cars, different parts, and bringing (Crew Chief) Todd Smith back to work with Dickie. I feel like we’re definitely in that window where the dragsters were. They’re making it look easy right now; where we are with the Funny Car, it’s definitely not easy, but I feel like we’re on the right path to success like they were.”

Chasing Speed And A Statement Win

Sonoma’s legendary Friday night qualifying session has become famous for record-setting performances, and Todd believes his team has the potential to produce career-best numbers.

“Back in pre-season testing, we made some really fast runs like 336 and 337 (mph). Dickie and Todd said if we get to the right conditions later in the year, it could run 340 no problem, so I’m thinking maybe we can creep up on that when we get to Sonoma.

“Either way, I’m just glad that we’re in the position we are, going to the later rounds most of the time. The consistency is coming around, and that’s something we’ve been lacking. I think that reflects on our points position; we’re within range of the points lead, and that’s where you want to be at this time of the year. It would be great to make a move with a win this weekend to stay in the hunt for that regular season championship.”

With only four races left before the Countdown resets the standings, Sonoma represents a pivotal opportunity for all of the Kalitta Motorsports teams.