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COMMERCE, Georgia (May 13, 2016) – Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, claimed the preliminary no.1 qualifying spot after the first day of qualifying for the Southern Nationals at the Atlanta Dragway.
Kalitta was stellar in both sessions earning the fourth position after the first pass with a 3.845 second lap, just missing the qualifying bonus points.
However, with the sun setting at Atlanta Dragway, Kalitta knew his team had more to offer. Kalitta watched his teammate, J.R. Todd, take over the top spot just moments before with a 3.762 pass giving Kalitta a target. Jim Oberhofer had the tune-up and Kalitta was ready in the drivers’ seat with a stellar 3.731 second pass, reseting his own track record elapsed time. The run would hold after the last pair giving Kalitta the lead going into the last day of qualifying.
“I am so proud of the effort that the Mac Tools team just put out,” said Kalitta. “This is big for all of our partners, Toyota, Red Line Oil, DHL, SealMaster, Patron, everyone that supports us. It is great to continue the momentum from the win in Houston here. We saw what J.R., Connie and the SealMaster team did in front of us and we knew we had to step on it. Jim O was on it, and the team did a great job.”
Kalitta took over the points lead with that pass. It is the second time that he has led the standings this season.
If the run holds, it will be his 45th career no.1 qualifier and second at Atlanta Dragway. The final two qualifying passes take place at 2:15pm and 4:45pm tomorrow.
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports: For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit #KalittaStrong online – Website: www.teamkalitta.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamKalitta Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta Instagram: www.instagram.com/TeamKalitta
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. 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, 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, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, Tequila Patrón, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.