Kalitta Gets Top Qualifier Slot

Former national sprint car champion Doug Kalitta knocked Tony Schumacher out of the No. 1 top fuel qualifying position when he powered his new McKinney dragster through the quarter-mile in 4.484 seconds in the final round Saturday of the K&N; Filters Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.

Kalitta’s dragster is being prepared this year by Rahn Tobler, Shirley Muldowney’s husband and her crew chief before she retired from racing in November.

Schumacher, who had led through the first three time trials, was fastest at 330.63, but quickest is more important than fastest in drag racing. Schumacher’s best time was 4.495.

Clay Millican, a three-time IHRA top fuel champion, is third at 4.510 and 320.82 mph.

In pro stock, defending Powerade champion Greg Anderson continued to dominate. He won his sixth consecutive NHRA pole by setting track records of 6.713 seconds and 206.10 mph.

Anderson’s time in each of the four qualifying sessions were enough to make him the No. 1 qualifier.

-- Shav Glick