Kalitta Motorsports Partners with Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel for Route 66 NHRA Nationals

YPSILANTI, Mich., (June 9, 2014) – Kalitta Motorsports, one of the largest and most successful teams in NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) professional drag racing history, announced today that they have partnered with Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel for the upcoming NHRA national event in Chicago, June 26-29.

Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel decals will adorn all of Team Kalitta’s race cars during the 17th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., just a few miles west of downtown Chicago. Team Kalitta’s four-car, nitro-fueled racers include the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Doug Kalitta, the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster driven by J.R. Todd, the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Del Worsham, and the Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Alexis DeJoria.

The partnership between Kalitta Motorsports and Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel was formed to help build awareness of Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel through not only branding on the race cars, but also through an extensive and fan-friendly Social Media campaign. Team Kalitta will use its very popular Social Media channels to offer giveaways, discounts to either stay or visit Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel; and opportunities for fans to interact with Team Kalitta drivers, playing alongside them in a live poker tournament and testing their reflex time against the pros in a fun, interactive game, all at Harrah’s Joliet!

“Harrah’s Joliet is very excited about this new partnership with Team Kalitta,” said Jennifer Nocco, Vice President of Marketing.  “We are very happy to have the NHRA back in Joliet again this year and to give Kalitta fans the opportunity to experience our newly renovated casino and hotel offering the excitement of Vegas-style gaming and award winning dining and accommodations to compliment the excitement of the track.”

Rachel Brunner, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager, said, “Our new relationship with Harrah’s Joliet is not only a great partnership for our team it’s also a wonderful opportunity for our fans and all the fans of NHRA Drag Racing to explore all of the amenities available at Harrah’s Joliet and to be able to engage with our Team Kalitta drivers in a unique setting.

“Through our Social Media channels we’re looking forward to giving race fans a fun and valuable interaction with Team Kalitta, and to get fans familiar with and connected to the continuing Social Media offerings of Harrah’s Joliet.”

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 Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd 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 Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car,  and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the OPTIMA Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Summit Racing Equipment, Mac Tools, Patrón XO Café, Red Line Oil, SealMaster and Technicoat.

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.

About Caesars Entertainment:

The Company is the world’s most geographically diversified casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, 75 years ago, the Company has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and now operates casinos on four continents. The Company’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s® and Horseshoe® brand names. The Company is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. We are committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognize the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.

For more information about Harrah’s Joliet please visit www.harrahsjoliet.com.  Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/harrahsjoliet  Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Harrahs.Joliet Check out videos from Harrah’s Joliet on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/harrahsjoliet  Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/harrahsjoliet