Kalitta Motorsports Partners with Rusch Machine and Design, Inc. for 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

YPSILANTI, Mich., (July 29, 2014) – Kalitta Motorsports, one of the largest and most successful teams in NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) professional drag racing history, announced today that Rusch Machine and Design, Inc. (RMD), a world-renowned designer and manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machinery, has signed on to be an associate sponsor on the team’s four 10,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled race cars. 

Large RMD decals now adorn 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 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series consists of 24 national events all across the United States.

“RMD has been involved behind the scenes with NHRA drag racing for years,” Chris Rusch, RMD owner and president, said. “Our many satisfied customers use RMD tube bending and notching machines to create custom chassis from the home bracket racers on up to the professional racers. 

“Being associated with Kalitta Motorsports and nitro race cars is a big step for RMD. We are excited to see what the Team Kalitta engineers create in their chassis shop using RMD equipment. We are confident our RMD machines will give Kalitta Motorsports an extra edge, or bend, to win even more races.”

“We are very excited to add RMD to our Team Kalitta family,” Jim Oberhofer, vice president of operations for Kalitta Motorsports, said. “We know that the addition of RMD equipment will give us the proper tools we need as we move forward building our in-house chassis and fabrication shop.”

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 –