KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com
Kalitta Presents Herbert with Check for BRAKES; $50,000 Donation Given in the Name of Scott Kalitta
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2008) – Before the third round of qualifying on Saturday at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., Connie Kalitta, Kalitta Motorsports team owner, presented Doug Herbert a $50,000 check for his charity organization BRAKES.
“For Connie to do this to help BRAKES is really awesome,” said Herbert. “Scott and I were friends and he was good friends with Jon and James from the time they were little. Scott would have wanted to do something to help people so it’s really neat that did that. The money they donated will help us save some kids lives.”
After the tragic death of Scott Kalitta in a racing crash at Englishtown, N.J., the Kalitta family decided to have half of the proceeds from sales of Scott Kalitta tribute merchandise be given to BRAKES. The team also sold BRAKES merchandise from their souvenir trailer and donated all of those proceeds to Herbert’s charity organization. Sales of Scott Kalitta tribute merchandise are ongoing and more donations to BRAKES are forthcoming.
“First of all I want to thank all the great racing fans and all the NHRA drivers and teams for all of their tremendous support for me and Scott’s family and Kalitta Motorsports,” said Connie Kalitta. “Needless to say, this has been a very trying time for all of us, but we would not have been able to get through it without everyone’s help.”
As the NHRA visits Charlotte, N.C., for the first time this weekend, Doug Herbert, whose shop is located in nearby Lincolnton, is receiving an outpouring of support for his charity organization BRAKES from fans, the NHRA community and fellow drivers.
“Doug and Scott were close friends, and I know it hit Scott really hard when Jon and James were killed just like it hit Doug hard when we lost Scott,” said Kalitta. “By donating the money to BRAKES, we know that Scott would have wanted that to help Doug and his efforts and this was the best way to make something positive from such tragic losses.”
About BRAKES
BRAKES, which stands for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe, is a non-profit organization founded by NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert in memory of his two sons who were killed in a car accident. By training and educating teenage drivers and their parents, the foundation aims to promote safe driving in an attempt to prevent injuries and save lives. For more information, visit www.putonthebrakes.com.
About Kalitta Motorsports
Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) POWERade Drag Racing Series. The racing operation was started in 1959 by now legendary drag racer and team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta drives the flagship Top Fuel dragster for Mac Tools. Native Australian Dave Grubnic drives the DHL Top Fuel dragster, Jeff Arend drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, and Hillary Will drives the Ken Black-owned and Kalitta Motorsports-managed KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster.
Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer (KB Racing, LLC dragster) and Glenn Mikres (DHL Funny Car). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola. Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante are co-crew chiefs on the Mac Tools dragster.
Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.