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BRAINERD, Minn. (August 19, 2016) – Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, claimed the third consecutive provisional pole for the Brainerd Nationals earlier today.
Worsham continued his run of stellar passes in the first qualifying session. Crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nicky Boninfante provided the tune-up for the 3.856 second lap, besting the field by over four hundredths and setting a new track record. The evening session saw Worsham run another solid number, a 3.872, which allowed Worsham to claim five of the six possible bonus points for the first day of the Brainerd Nationals.
“That 3.856 was a great pass for the conditions,” said Worsham. “Nicky, Jon O and all of the DHL Toyota guys are doing a great job.”
“I am not sure if that is going to hold or not. Conditions look good for tomorrow, so we could see some changes.”
Those passes allowed Worsham to clinch a milestone: his 500th career race-day start. He is only the third active driver to have reached that mark.
If the run holds, Worsham will earn the no.1 qualifier for the third consecutive race for the first time in his career. It would be his 21st pole of his career and 14th in Funny Car. This would be his second Brainerd pole; Worsham earned his first career no.1 qualifier at Brainerd International Raceway in 1991.
Worsham’s Funny Car teammate, Alexis DeJoria, is not in attendance due to injuries suffered at the Toyota Sonoma Nationals last month. The Kalitta Top Fuel dragsters of J.R. Todd and Doug Kalitta both made two passes on Fri
Todd is currently slotted sixth with Kalitta in seventh in the Top Fuel field.
About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with six world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
Team Kalitta is the home of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Champions, Del Worsham. He drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Kalitta Motorsports also manages the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, Todd Smith on the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car, Rob Flynn on the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster and Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include ARP, AutoDesk CAM, Champion, Cogistics, Darton Sleeves, DHL, Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Mac Tools, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Racing Electronics, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, Tequila Patrón, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.