Jim Oberhofer announces The Tammy O Foundation

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (August 23, 2016) – Jim “O” Oberhofer is pleased to announce the establishment of The Tammy O Foundation, celebrating the life of his wife, Tammy “O” Oberhofer, who lost her battle with cancer on June 18th, 2013.

The Tammy O Foundation will be a donor-advised fund that will donate funds raised from the purchases of Jim O’s book, Top Fuel for Life. The charity will send funds to organizations that were very close to Tammy O’s heart, including BRAKES, Pandas International, Racers for Christ, DRAW and Infinite Hero Foundation. Funds from the Tammy O Foundation will continue to be available based on NHRA fans continuing to purchase Top Fuel for Life, which can be purchased through the Team Kalitta website, trackside at the Patrón merchandise hauler or on amazon.com.

“I thought about doing my own 501-3c,” said Oberhofer, “But I wanted to do this the right way. This allows me to be able to donate to things that I know Tammy would have wanted me to donate to. Ashley O and I have made a list and we are going to continue to support as many people as we can.”

The logo highlights one of Tammy O’s favorite things, pandas, and was designed by legendary motorsports artist Kenny Youngblood. The Tammy O Foundation logo will be run on all four Team Kalitta machines driven by Alexis DeJoria, Del Worsham, Doug Kalitta and J.R. Todd starting in Indianapolis.

“Tammy was very close to Kenny’s wife, Terri, and thought the world of Kenny’s work,” said Oberhofer. “I knew he was the perfect person to design a logo for her foundation.”

Tammy O was a beloved member of the Team Kalitta and NHRA families and worked for Kalitta Motorsports for over 20 years, first as the team’s Public Relations representative, before taking over as office manager.

The Tammy O Foundation logo design was done by Kenny Youngblood.


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.