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Langdon Secures No.1 Qualifier, Kalitta Dominates Third #2Fast2Tasty Win at NHRA New England
Highlights
- Doug Kalitta won third Mission Foods Challenge of 2026 season
- Shawn Langdon secured his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier
- NHRA New England Nationals continue with Sunday live FOX broadcast
- Kalitta defeated Langdon in close final despite tire smoke
- Langdon earned first-round bye among 15 Top Fuel entrants
- Funny Car rematch: J.R. Todd vs. Spencer Hyde Sunday
Doug Kalitta wins his third Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of 2026 at Epping’s New England Dragway during the NHRA New England Nationals. Team Kalitta shines as Shawn Langdon secures a second successive No. 1 qualifier.
Sunday’s eliminations follow, with a live FOX broadcast at 3 p.m. Eastern. The result strengthens Kalitta’s momentum and underscores Team Kalitta’s balanced form across qualifying and race-trim.
The final becomes an intra-team duel. Langdon beats Billy Torrence, while Kalitta eliminates Leah Pruett to advance. Execution and lane calls prove decisive under increasingly marginal track conditions.
Kalitta launches first and establishes control. Near the finish, his car smokes the tires, inviting Langdon’s Mac Tools dragster back. Kalitta still holds on to bank bonus points.
Kalitta claims his third Mission Foods Challenge win of 2026, edging Langdon despite late tire smoke.
Kalitta praises the Mission Foods Challenge for energizing race day. He acknowledges a tricky surface but credits clean early power delivery for keeping the car hooked while Langdon charged.
Kalitta’s consistency echoes 2025, when he logged five Mission Challenge wins and captured the season title, reinforcing the program’s importance for race-day development and driver confidence.
The intra-squad rivalry remains constructive. With both dragsters prepped side by side at the shop, bragging rights matter, yet data sharing appears intact and beneficial across the team.
Kalitta also notes Eddie’s Lobsterfest, an annual team gathering that honors cousin Scott’s legacy. The event underlines the group’s tight culture during a demanding stretch of the schedule.
Langdon’s qualifying speed again stands out. A 3.709 elapsed time at 334.98 mph on Friday night secures his fourth No. 1 of 2026 and the 26th of his career.
Langdon’s 3.709 at 334.98 mph delivers his fourth No. 1 of 2026 and the 26th of his career.
With 15 Top Fuel entrants, Langdon gains a first-round bye, improving his lane choice prospects. That strategic cushion could compound advantage if temperatures and grip shift on Sunday.
Kalitta qualifies fourth and draws Will Smith, the No. 13 seed, in round one. Funny Car headlines a rematch, with J.R. Todd facing Spencer Hyde after last year’s final.
Sunday eliminations air live on FOX at 3 p.m. Eastern.
Team Kalitta carries clear momentum into eliminations, yet execution under changeable New England conditions will decide outcomes. FOX coverage begins at 3 p.m. Eastern.
Visual Summary
Langdon
Kalitta ?
?
Kalitta Holds On for #2Fast2Tasty Win
…as Langdon closes in at the Mission Foods Challenge final
?3rd
Mission Challenge win
this season
this season
VS
Team
Rival
Energy
Rival
Energy
No. 1
Qualifier (2nd straight)
4th of 2026 • 334.98 mph
4th of 2026 • 334.98 mph
At the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, Doug Kalitta launched out front but smoked the tires near the finish as Langdon nearly stole the win. Kalitta held on—with both Team Kalitta cars crossing within a blink—sealing his 3rd #2Fast2Tasty title in 2026!
?
Tense
Finale
Tense
Finale
?
Team
Rivalry
Team
Rivalry
?
Eddie’s
Lobsterfest
Eddie’s
Lobsterfest
⚡
334.98
mph
334.98
mph
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
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