KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 5 of 24
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev.
April 10-13, 2008
Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com
DHL to double their chances of delivering a win in Las Vegas as the primary colors on two Team Kalitta NHRA drag racers
LAS VEGAS, (April 8, 2008) – For NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series fans, the familiar bright yellow and red colors of DHL have been associated with the 8,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, driven by Scott Kalitta, for over a year now. At this weekend’s, April 10-13, annual running of the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, those well-recognized colors will also adorn the 330+ mph Top Fuel dragster driven by native Australian and Team Kalitta pilot Dave Grubnic.
“What an honor it is for me and our team to represent such a great company and a great partner of Kalitta Motorsports in Las Vegas,” Grubnic, a 45-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “DHL’s commitment to our team and to the sport of NHRA drag racing is evolving and strengthening. It’s very gratifying for us to be able to share in that dedication and excitement.”
Longtime Team Kalitta associate sponsor and Las Vegas-based Technicoat Companies will also have a larger presence on Grubnic’s 8,000-horsepower rail this weekend. Technicoat Companies, helmed by “the Cowboys”, Bob Coffman and Glen Williams, plan to welcome over 100 of their friends, family, and customers to the event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Grubnic is currently in 7th place in 2008 POWERade Top Fuel championship points.
In early 2004, Grubnic was hired to drive for legendary team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and Kalitta Motorsports. In the fall of ‘04, Grubnic won the lucrative and coveted Budweiser Shootout in Las Vegas, becoming only the fourth driver in the special event's history to win its $100,000 prize in his first attempt. Grubnic picked up an emotional first NHRA national event win in May, 2005 in Topeka, Kans., to become the first non-native North American to win a Top Fuel trophy. He has one other event victory to date, the 2006 running of the famed Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
“Our relationship with DHL on our Funny Car has been tremendous from the start,” Kalitta, a 46-year old resident of Palmetto, Fla., said. “Having them as the primary sponsor on both our car and on Grubnic’s car in Las Vegas is a testament to how our partnership continues to keep getting stronger.
“It would be such a thrill for our entire Kalitta Motorsports team to put both of the DHL cars in the winner’s circle this weekend.”
Kalitta is currently in 17th place in 2008 POWERade Funny Car championship points.
Kalitta is the son of team owner and drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. He returned to the Funny Car class in 2006 after many successful years at the helm of a Top Fuel dragster. He won the NHRA Top Fuel World Championship in 1994 and 1995 as well as 17 NHRA national event trophies.
The SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 4:30 p.m. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The top sixteen qualified cars will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.
All times and dates subject to change.
The SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals is the 5th of 24 national events in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
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. His son, Scott Kalitta, drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car. Scott’s cousin, Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta drives the flagship Top Fuel dragster for Mac Tools. Native Australian Dave Grubnic drives the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, while Hillary Will drives the Ken Black-owned and Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster.
Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer (Hillary Will-driven dragster) and Jon Oberhofer (Mac Tools dragster). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car with assistance from co-crew chief Glenn Mikres and as the crew chief on the Kalitta Motorsports dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola.
Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.