Top Fuel Doug Kalitta wondered if the NHRA still held press conferences after qualifying. Friday night in Phoenix, his questions were answered.

For the drag racing veteran, the last time he’d been to one was in November 2006, when he qualified on the pole for the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Ca. This weekend, he has the quickest Top Fuel dragster at Phoenix with a 3.825, 317.05.

Admittedly, Kalitta and his crew, led by Jim Oberhofer, have stumbled on to something that is working. Based on their runner-up finish last weekend in the season-opening Winternationals, it’s working well.

Top Fuel Doug Kalitta wondered if the NHRA still held press conferences after qualifying. Friday night in Phoenix, his questions were answered.

For the drag racing veteran, the last time he’d been to one was in November 2006, when he qualified on the pole for the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Ca. This weekend, he has the quickest Top Fuel dragster at Phoenix with a 3.825, 317.05.

Admittedly, Kalitta and his crew, led by Jim Oberhofer, have stumbled on to something that is working. Based on their runner-up finish last weekend in the season-opening Winternationals, it’s working well.

“It’s the second race of the season and I’m in the media center,” said Kalitta, smiling. “We’re going to remain humble and try to keep doing the things that win races. The guys are working real hard on the car.”

Kalitta was one of a score of drivers who attribute a strong 2010 start with data attained during the January pre-season test session at Palm Beach International Raceway in southern Florida.

“We’ve stumbled across a few things that will hopefully stay working for us a little while,” Kalitta said. “We work with Alan Johnson and his parts; hopefully it will keep working for a championship goal.”

If the run holds, it will be the 29th pole of his career.

“We were real hopeful that we would get a good run,” said Kalitta. “The conditions were real good and I was real happy that it stood up.”