FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KALITTA MOTORSPORTS / KB RACING, LLC
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 23 of 24
ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev.
Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2008

Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com



Hillary Will races to Las Vegas to redeem last fall’s fall


LAS VEGAS, (Oct. 28, 2008) – What a difference a year makes for Hillary Will, driver of the Palm Beach Int’l Raceway / KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster and the world’s fastest female. One year ago, Will and her team, led by crew chief Jim Oberhofer, entered the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 13th place in POWERade championship points and they were, admittedly, just trying to finish a disappointing season. The result of last year’s event was Will’s only career DNQ (did not qualify).

Including this weekend’s, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, annual fall running of the event in the Nevada desert, there are only two events remaining in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, but this time Will and her Palm Beach Int’l Raceway team are experiencing a season-long reversal of fortunes that has them entering this year’s glitzy racing gala in second place in points and a dogged determination to maintain their career-high position in points.

“We want to stay right where we are,” Will, a 28-year old native of Fortuna, Calif., said. “Unfortunately, the championship is almost assuredly out of our grasp, but finishing the season in second would be a tremendous accomplishment for our team. Our Palm Beach Int’l Raceway / KB Racing, LLC team has our dragster running the best it ever has, and I’m sure that will continue for the final two races.

“The first thing we have to do this time in Vegas, though, is get our car qualified, hopefully near the top of the sheet. We certainly don’t want a repeat of last year’s DNQ. There are a lot of dragsters on the entry list this year, so it’s going to be a challenge, but we’re up to it, just like we’ve faced every challenge we’ve had this year.

“We also want to get a win in one or both of these last two events for Palm Beach Int’l Raceway. They came on board as a primary sponsor with us at the previous event in Richmond (Va.), but they are only going to be with us until the end of the year, so getting their car in the winner’s circle in these last two races would be a great way to thank them for all of their great support and get some great exposure for their first class racing facility.”

Will will participate in the NHRA Fanfest, Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the 3rd Street section of the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. She and other stars of the NHRA POWERade Drag racing Series will be signing autographs and interacting with race fans. The event is open to the public, and admission is free.

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, which will be observed for the remainder of the 2008 season, 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. Will became the fastest female in the NHRA’s new 1,000-ft. era by crossing the track timers at 315.49 mph at the previous event in Richmond, Va.

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.

Qualifying for the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals begins Friday for the Nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 4:00 p.m. Two more qualifying sessions take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.

All times and dates subject to change.


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.

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.