NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta joins an exclusive club with his 50th career win

With his Top Fuel victory at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Doug Kalitta became just the 23rd driver in NHRA history to reach the 50-win milestone and just the 16th to do it in the NHRA Professional ranks. Here's a look at the list of NHRA winners with 50 or more victories.
19 Sep 2023
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Doug Kalitta

With his Top Fuel victory at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Doug Kalitta became just the 23rd driver in NHRA history to reach the 50-win milestone and just the 16th to do it in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Professional ranks.

Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden was the first to reach 50 wins with this victory at Texas Motorplex in the fall of 1986.

Kalitta’s first victory came in 1998 in Sonoma, a race he has now won five times. His 10th win came at the fall Chicago event in 2005 and his 25th at the 2006 Bristol event. It took Kalitta a frustrating three wins to go from No. 49, recorded in St. Louis in 2020, to the 50th in Reading, an event he had only won once before, more than two decades ago in 2002.

“We’ve been trying our hardest to get that monkey off our back and get that 50th win, and now we can get all that stress of trying to get to the winner’s circle behind us, settle in, and concentrate on the next five (playoff) races," said Kalitta. "Getting this victory, that’s been big on my list. It was a great job for my team and I’m really proud of their effort."

Here's a look at the list of NHRA winners with 50 or more victories.

Rank

Driver

Wins

Class(es)

1

John Force

155

Funny Car

2

Dan Fletcher

107

Multiple Sportsman

3

Frank Manzo *

105

Alcohol Funny Car

4

Greg Anderson

101

Pro Stock

5

David Rampy *

100

Multiple Sportsman

6

Warren Johnson *

97

Pro Stock

7

Tony Schumacher

86

Top Fuel

8

Bob Glidden *

85

Pro Stock

9

Jeg Coughlin

84

Pro Stock, multiple Sportsman

10

Ron Capps

76

Funny Car, Top Fuel

11

Pat Austin *

75

Alcohol Funny Car, Top Fuel

12

Antron Brown

74

Top Fuel, Pro Stock Motorcycle

13

Kenny Bernstein *

69

Funny Car, Top Fuel

14

Robert Hight

64

Funny Car

15

Larry Dixon

62

Top Fuel

16

Steve Torrence

58

Alcohol Dragster, Top Fuel

17

Joe Amato *

57

Top Fuel, Alcohol Dragster

18

Andrew Hines *

56

Pro Stock Motorcycle

19

Jason Line *

53

Pro Stock, Stock

20

Peter Biondo

52

Multiple Sportsman

21

Bob Newberry *

50

Alcohol Funny Car, Comp

22

Jeff Taylor

50

Multiple Sportsman

23

Doug Kalitta

50

Top Fuel

* = inactive