Kalitta Motorsports, Clean Harbors to call attention to NHRA trackside sustainability efforts this season

Gainesville, Fla. (March 9, 2022) – Kalitta Motorsports and Clean Harbors, along with its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, are teaming up to give increased visibility to environmental sustainability this year at several NHRA tracks.

Drag racing world champion and team owner Connie Kalitta was a pioneer in sustainable practices – seeking better ways to minimize the sport’s environmental impact as early as the 1960s. In the 80s, Kalitta was pleased to become one of Safety-Kleen’s first oil recycling customers.

Today, Clean Harbors, North America’s leading provider of environmental services, continues to provide oil recycling and sustainable parts washer services to the Kalitta Motorsports. Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors is the largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil in the United States. and a leading provider of parts washers and sustainable services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers. 

Beginning this weekend at Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., fans, employees and customers alike will see the Kalitta Motorsports and Clean Harbors commitment to sustainable practices firsthand in the form of a Clean Harbors hospitality tent in Kalitta’s pit side area.

The Clean Harbors tent will also stand tall at Kalitta’s pit area for the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals, the New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., the Mile-High Nationals in Denver, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, and the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed outside of Dallas.

“This affiliation gives us and Kalitta the opportunity to outwardly display the importance of sustainability in racing,” said Clean Harbors Motorsports Manager Drew Patey. “Together, we’re working toward a greener sport.”

Safety-Kleen operates the three largest oil re-refineries in the United States, collecting and processing more than 220 million gallons of oil per year. Throughout the years, Kalitta Motorsports has run multiple race cars at nearly every NHRA national event. As such, Kalitta has had a hand in recycling and reclaiming hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil as they have raced to multiple world championships and national event victories.

“Connie was at the forefront of recycling and reclaiming oil in the early 70s before anyone was even talking about recycling,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports general manager. “We have been working with Safety-Kleen for years to make sure we are collecting and recycling as much oil as safely as possible. We have 24 parts cleaning units throughout the team, fabrication, and manufacturing departments within our 50,000 sq. ft. facility.” 

Kalitta Motorsports will also provide Safety-Kleen branding on the back door of the race team support trailers as well as a logo on both of Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel entries. Through their relationship with Safety-Kleen, Kalitta Motorsports has evolved and upgraded their recycling and sustainability program as new technologies and products become available. The team is continually looking at ways to re-use as many liquids and materials as possible from both a cost savings and environmental impact standpoint.

“This kind of recycling effort makes a huge difference on so many levels,” added Patey. “We’re excited to expand this all-around beneficial relationship and increase awareness at NHRA tracks.”