Kalitta Motorsports Hosts Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Heroes of Horsepower Reception

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YPSILANTI, Mich., (Aug. 6, 2014) – Kalitta Motorsports, the nitro-fueled, four-car NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team based in Ypsilanti, Mich., hosted the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s Heroes of Horsepower Reception last night, Aug. 5, at the team’s 50,000-square feet race shop.

The Heroes of Horsepower Reception was a prelude to tonight’s 26th annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America induction ceremony at the Fillmore Theatre in downtown Detroit, about 35 miles from the Kalitta Motorsports facility. This year’s inductees are Ole Bardahl, Raymond Beadle, John Bishop, Ricky Graham, Arie Luyendyk, Marshall Teague, and Rusty Wallace.

Racing legends Wallace, Bobby and Donnie Allison, David Hobbs, Ed Pink, Johnny Rutherford, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Scott Parker, Jay Springsteen, Hershel McGriff, “Waterbed” Fred Miller, Doug Kalitta, and many others were in attendance for the reception which included a live auction of racing memorabilia and sculpture unveilings of inductee’s plaques.

Hobbs and Bob Varsha, acclaimed television racing announcer and personality, emceed the two-hour event.

Jim Oberhofer, vice president of operations for Kalitta Motorsports, said, “We were very honored to have the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s Heroes of Horsepower Reception at our race shop. It’s truly amazing to have all those racing greats all together at Kalitta Motorsports.”

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About Kalitta Motorsports:

Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car nitro drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded by drag racing pioneer and auto racing legend Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than half of a century, Kalitta has been involved in the world’s quickest and fastest motor sport as a driver, tuner, and as 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 Kalitta in 1959.

Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster for Team Kalitta. Former Top Fuel world champion Del Worsham drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Alexis DeJoria, the world’s quickest female Funny Car racer, drives the Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car, and J.R. Todd, the first African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel event, drives the OPTIMA Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster. 

Jim Oberhofer, crew chief, and Troy Fasching, assistant crew chief, guide the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster team. Crew chief Nick Boninfante and co-crew chief Jon Oberhofer tune the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Tommy DeLago, crew chief, and Glen Huszar, co-crew chief, make the calls on the Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car, and Connie Kalitta serves as crew chief on the OPTIMA Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster with help from assistant crew chief James Riola.

Valued partners of Kalitta Motorsports include Mac Tools, DHL, Optima Batteries, Patrón XO Café, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat, and SealMaster.

For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit #KalittaStrong online –

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