FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 15 of 24
FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
July 25-27, 2008

Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com


Dave Grubnic, driver of the DHL Top Fuel dragster, qualified No. 5 (3.844 seconds, 311.77 mph) advanced to round one

Dave Grubnic and the DHL team upset by teammate in Sonoma opener


SONOMA, Calif., (July 28, 2008) – Native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the bright yellow DHL Top Fuel dragster, had his dreams of winning in wine country dashed in the first round of eliminations Sunday at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Grubnic, the No. 5 qualifier (3.844 seconds, 311.77 mph), rolled to the starting line Sunday morning to race against his Kalitta Motorsports teammate and No. 12 qualifier (3.898 seconds, 308.57 mph) Hillary Will, driver of the KB racing, LLC dragster. After the start of the race, Grubnic’s DHL dart began suffering traction problems on the tricky drag strip at Infineon Raceway. Will had little or no problems with her run and sped away to get the win, 5.050 seconds, 144.97 mph to 3.885 seconds, 310.77 mph.

Grubnic will have to wait until the next event in Brainerd, Minn., to vie for a sesquicentennial milestone. His next elimination-round win will be the 150th of his 14-year Top Fuel career.

Grubnic is currently in 9th place in POWERade championship points.

Beginning with the 13th event in Denver, the NHRA instituted a new racing distance for the nitro-fueled classes of Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster to 1,000 ft., as opposed to the traditional distance of 1,320 ft., or a quarter of a mile, as a temporary safety solution to help the drivers of the world’s quickest and fastest racing safely bring their cars to a stop more efficiently. The unprecedented action is in response to the tragic death of Kalitta Motorsports’ Scott Kalitta, who died in a high-speed Funny Car qualifying accident in Englishtown, N.J., June 21.

Grubnic, unofficially, recorded the quickest 1,000-ft. elapsed time of the 2008 season, 3.783 sec., in Madison, Ill., in early May.

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.

The FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals was the 15th event of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.


About Kalitta Motorsports

Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel 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, and 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 and brothers Jim Oberhofer (KB Racing, LLC dragster) and Jon Oberhofer (Mac Tools dragster). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola.

Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.