Hometown: Mt. Clemens, Michigan
Residence: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Birth Date: August 20, 1964
Family: Wife, Josie; Son, Mitchell (2/13/01); Daughter, Avery (7/15/03)
Years Racing: 21
Years Drag Racing: 11
Wins/Final Rounds: 30/55
Best Elapsed Time: 4.420 (NHRA Best) (quarter-mile)
Best Speed: 335.57 (quarter-mile)
Car owner: Connie Kalitta
Crew chiefs: Jon Oberhofer, Nick Boninfante
In the past five NHRA seasons, Doug, who has finished in the top ten in points for ten consecutive years, has solidified his place among the best Top Fuel pilots of all-time. He won one NHRA national event in 2007 in Richmond, Va., but 2006 was arguably the best of Doug’s straight-line career. He won a career-high five national events in ‘06 and led the POWERade points for the entire second half of the season until a heart-breaking finale at the year’s final event that resulted in Doug ending up just 14 points shy of his first NHRA championship. He also won the $100,000 Budweiser Shootout bonus race in 2006 for the third time in his storied career. His other Shootout trophies came in 2003 and 1998.
The 2005 season also saw Doug win five national events. He finished third in POWERade championship points that year. With a runner-up points finish in 2004, Doug won four national events, and he won a category-leading seven low qualifier awards. He led the POWERade points for the first time in his drag racing career and became the quickest man in NHRA history with an astounding 4.420-second lap in the final round of the spring event in Chicago. He also clocked the then NHRA’s fastest lap with his 335.57-mph jaunt in Las Vegas. He was runner-up at 50th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the most prestigious drag racing event in the world. In 2003, Doug finished second in POWERade points. He led the Top Fuel class with a career-high nine No. 1 qualifying positions. Five of those low qualifier awards came consecutively at the beginning of the season, tying a Top Fuel record.
Doug’s racing career started as a crewmember on his Uncle Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta’s Top Fuel team. Doug spent most of the 1980s working for his legendary uncle, now the car owner of his rail ride. In 1990, Doug began pursuing his open-wheel racing aspirations. He was ARCA/WWAR Midget Rookie of the Year in 1990 and USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year in 1991. In 1994, he was crowned the USAC National Sprint Car Champion. He followed his title with runner-up points finishes in 1995 and 1996.
When Connie decided to hang up his driving gloves at the end of the 1997 season, he asked Doug to put his circle-track career aside and take the controls of his 8,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled rocket-on-wheels. Doug accepted the offer and has been a perennial NHRA championship contender ever since.
Pursuing a lifelong passion for flying, Doug, like his Uncle Connie, makes his living in the skies. Doug is owner and president of Kalitta Charters based at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan, right next to Connie’s Kalitta Air. When he was only 21 years old, Doug became one of the youngest persons to ever receive a Learjet rating.
When he is not racing or flying, Doug enjoys hunting, skiing and spending time with his family.
© 2008 Kalitta Motorsports