KALITTA MOTORSPORTS / KB RACING, LLC
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
Hillary Will ready to return home to race in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif., (July 22, 2008) – Hillary Will, driver of the 8,000-horsepower KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster, is eager to go back home to Northern California this weekend, July 25-27, as she and the rest of the stars and cars of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series compete this weekend in wine country at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., at picturesque Infineon Raceway.
Will, a 28-year old native of Fortuna, Calif., currently resides in Michigan, near the Kalitta Motorsports race shop in Ypsilanti. Her best finish in the Top Fuel class at Infineon Raceway came in her rookie season of 2006 when she raced to the semifinals. She reached the quarterfinals during last season’s Sonoma event.
“I’m so excited to be going back home and to Sonoma to race,” Will said. “Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to win a Top Fuel “Wally” (trophy) at Sonoma. I always look forward to going back there and competing in front of all my family and friends. It’s a great race track and a wonderful facility, so all things considered; it’s certainly my favorite place to race in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.”
“Our KB Racing, LLC dragster is one of the best performing cars in Top Fuel, so hopefully everything will come together for us this year, and we can go to the winner’s circle at Infineon. I’m sure it will be one of the highlights of my career when we do.”
Will is currently in 7th 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.
Will became the fastest woman in the history of NHRA drag racing when she posted a 334.65-mph lap down the quarter-mile race track at the first of event of the 2008 season in Pomona, Calif. She became the first driver of either gender to go over 300 mph at the new 1,000-ft. finish line in Denver with a 302.21-mph mark in qualifying.
Will is currently the only female driver competing in the Top Fuel class.
A former standout in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Will moved up to the quickest and fastest NHRA professional class, Top Fuel, in 2006 behind the wheel of a newly formed team owned by Las Vegas businessman Ken Black and managed by Kalitta Motorsports, the multi-car team founded and owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. She won her first Top Fuel event trophy in Norwalk (IHRA) in her rookie season and made her first NHRA final-round appearance in Memphis later that year. She finished the season in 10th place in Top Fuel championship points in ‘06. Will picked up an emotional first NHRA national event title in Topeka, Kan., June 1, 2008.
The FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 4:00 p.m. (PT) and 7:15 p.m. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday at noon and 3:00 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 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals is 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 Jim Oberhofer (KB Racing, LLC dragster), Jon Oberhofer (Mac Tools dragster co-crew chief), and Richard Hogan (Mac Tools dragster co-crew chief). 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.
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.
About KB Racing, LLC
KB Racing, LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. In the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, KB Racing, LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock entries, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line, and a Top Fuel dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports and driven by Hillary Will.