Grubnic Ready to Rebound in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn., (June 11, 2013) – For David Grubnic, driver of the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, the goal for this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in scenic Bristol, Tenn. is to improve after a disappointing outing at the previous NHRA Mello Yello Drag racing Series event in Englishtown, N.J. two weeks ago.

Grubnic and the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts team did not qualify for eliminations in Englishtown ending a 52-event streak of qualifying success. Grubnic missed making the 16-dragster eliminations field by a scant .001 seconds.

“We’re all obviously disappointed with our non-qualifying performance in Englishtown however we must find the positives out of this situation,” Grubnic, a 50-year old resident of Bozeman, Mont., said. “The bottom line is there’s no room for excuses and we need to be more focused and pay more attention to details. I believe this will help in turning our team around and gaining the performance we need to start going rounds and head us in the direction towards the winner’s circle. Our Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts team has proven we can win in the past, and it’s time to prove we can do that again.”

 Grubnic is in 12th place in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points, only 69 points away from re-entering the top ten.

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/GoGrubby

Event Schedule:

The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin Friday for Team Kalitta and all the Nitro-powered pros with two qualifying sessions at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (ET). Two more qualifying sessions follow on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars in each Nitro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at noon.

Times and dates subject to change.

ESPN2 TV Schedule:

6/15/2013 – Qualfying
7:00 PM-9:30 PM (ET)
6/16/2013 – Finals
1:00 PM-3:00 PM (ET)
6/16/2013 – Finals
11:00 PM-12:00 AM (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 Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/teamkalitta.