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SEATTLE, Wash., (Aug. 4, 2013) – Even keel Doug Kalitta, driver of the 10,000-horsepower “Big Red” Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, is not one to dwell on big wins or upsetting losses, so he will have no trouble putting a less than exemplary weekend at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle behind him.
After unusually struggling in qualifying, Kalitta, a 48-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., entered Sunday’s eliminations in Seattle in the No. 12 (3.837 seconds, 312.64 mph) spot. He faced off against No. 5 qualifier Morgan Lucas in round one. Kalitta led the race until the 330-ft. markers, but the Mac Tools Top Fueler then started losing traction and fading back. Lucas got the win, 4.905 sec., 148.62 to 3.817 sec., 318.32 mph.
After racing for seven of the previous eight weekends, Kalitta and the Mac Tools team will have next weekend off before heading to Brainerd, Minn., the following weekend for the 17th event of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
So far this season, Kalitta has raced to three semi-final finishes and one runner-up (Norwalk, Ohio). He has been No. 1 qualifier entering eliminations on five occasions this season. Kalitta is currently in fifth place in Mello Yello Top Fuel championship points.
Kalitta has amassed 32 NHRA Top Fuel title trophies in 66 final-round appearances. He has finished in the top ten in Mello Yello championship points in every season of his 16-year straight-line career. He was also the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion. Kalitta is the owner and president of Kalitta Charters and Kalitta Charters II, airlines specializing in passenger charter flights and freight transportation respectively.
Follow Doug Kalitta:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Air_Doug, www.twitter.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) 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 Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. David Grubnic 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 Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Candlewood Suites, Red Line Oil, Technicoat and JEGS.
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.