DeJoria, Todd earn round one victories – Team Kalitta Eliminations Recap – Gainesville

GAINESVILLE,Fla. (March 15, 2015) – J.R. Todd, driver of the Red Line Oil/Kalitta Air Top Fuel Dragster, and Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, picked up round one victories on Sunday in Gainesville to lead the Kalitta Motorsports four-car contingent.

Todd struggled through qualifying, but earned the number 14 qualifying spot. His draw was the number three qualifier, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, Doug Kalitta. It was a very even fight, but Todd came out on top with a 3.795 second pass. Kalitta followed closely at 3.809 seconds.

“Happy to get a round win, but it was unfortunate that it had to be against my teammate,” said Todd. “The plan was to get the win after that, but the clutch problems that plagued us throughout the weekend came back to bite us in the second round. We are going to test and try to figure out our issues and come back better in Charlotte.”

Kalitta remains in the top five in the point standings, while Todd is currently ninth.

The Mac Tools team was joined by Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander on Sunday. Verlander, who is in town for spring training, and Kalitta conducted a jersey trade on the the starting line.

In the first round, DeJoria outran the Matt Hagan, the defending Funny Car Champion and winner of the first two events. Her 4.145 second pass defeated Hagan, who ran a 5.312.

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, was Kalitta Motorsports’ top qualifier as he went into round one qualified second. However, he hazed the tires and was unable to get around Blake Alexander. This was Worsham’s first opening round loss of the season.

“Unfortunately, the DHL Toyota Camry did not run the way we wanted it to in the first round,” said Worsham. “I am excited to test tomorrow and see if we can resolve our issues prior to the four-wide event in Charlotte.

The GatorNationals left Worsham still inside the top three in the point standings, while DeJoria ranks among the classes’ top ten.

All four Team Kalitta entries will test at the Auto Plus Raceway of Gainesville on Monday.

Through three events, Kalitta Motorsports’ four car effort has advanced to two final rounds. The next race for the team is the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.

Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car:

No. 11 Qualifier (4.116 sec., 308.14mph)

E1: DeJoria defeated Hagan – 4.145 sec., 303.78 mph to 5.312 sec., 241.54 mph

E2: DeJoria defeated by Hale – 4.509 sec., 238.22 mph to 4.196 sec., 277.37 mph

J.R. Todd – Driver of the Red Line Oi/Kalitta Air Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 14 Qualifier (3.891 sec., 312.86 mph)

E1: Todd defeated Kalitta – 3.795 sec., 322.81 mph to 3.809 sec., 321.58 mph

E2: Todd defeated by Brown – 4.008 sec., 270.48 mph to 3.850 sec., 314.90 mph

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 3 Qualifier (3.796 sec., 323.58 mph)

E1: Kalitta defeated by Todd – 3.809 sec., 321.58 mph to 3.795 sec., 322.81 mph

Del Worsham – Driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car:

No. 2 Qualifier (4.057 sec., 312.57 mph)

E1: Worsham defeated by Alexander- 4.689 sec., 189.55 mph to 4.151 sec., 303.43 mph

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 five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Del Worsham drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Team Kalitta. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the Red Line Oil/Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. 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, by Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.
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