Grubnic Going to Norwalk with High Hopes

David Grubnic

David GrubnicNORWALK, Ohio, (July 3, 2013) – Native Australian David Grubnic, driver of the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, hopes that this weekend will see a change of fortune for him and his team as they celebrate America’s Independence Day and compete in the annual running of NHRA Norwalk Nationals at Norwalk Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

“We’ve been struggling with our Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts dragster,” Grubnic, a 50-year old resident of Bozeman, Mont., said. “We’ve been working on some new things, and sometimes you have to take a couple steps back to take three forward. We’re always looking to improve on our performance. Connie (Kalitta, team owner and crew chief) and the whole team have working feverishly to solve our performance deficit. We look forward to racing at Norwalk and at the same time celebrate this great nation’s birthday.”

Grubnic has raced to three quarterfinals thus far this season (Pomona, Calif., Phoenix, and Las Vegas), and he is currently No. 13 in NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points.

Grubnic is an 18-year Top Fuel veteran and earned his first career Top Fuel victory in Topeka, Kan. in 2005, becoming the first racer born outside North America to win an NHRA Top Fuel event. He has garnered three NHRA Top Fuel national event victories so far. The always-affable Grubnic is known affectionately by his peers and fans as “Grubby”.

Follow David Grubnic:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/GoGrubbywww.twitter.com/TeamKalitta

Event Schedule:

The NHRA Norwalk Nationals begin Friday for Team Kalitta and all the Nitro-powered pros with two qualifying sessions at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (ET). Two more qualifying sessions follow on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars in each Nitro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.   

Times and dates subject to change.

ESPN2 TV Schedule

7/6/2013   Qualifying

   6:00 PM-8:00 PM (ET)

7/7/2013   Finals

   7:00 PM-10:00 PM (ET)

Times and dates subject to change.

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) Full Throttle 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 Toyota Camry Funny Car. David Grubnic drives the OPTIMA Batteries/Advance Auto Parts 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 Toyota Camry Funny Car,  and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Candlewood Suites, Red Line Oil, Technicoat and JEGS.

For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit www.teamkalitta.com. Follow Us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta. Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KalittaMotorsports. Check out videos about Team Kalitta on our YouTube Channel:www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta. Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/teamkalitta.

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