Post-Qualifying Report Event 12: Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Summit Racing Equipment Raceway Park

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Q1: 3.777 sec. at 325.69 MPH
Q2: 3.719 sec. at 327.51 MPH
Q3: 5.385 sec. at 131.63 MPH
Q4: 3.835 sec. at 300.93 MPH
Bonus Points: 5 pts. (Third best in the first session, best of the second session, Third best of the final session)

Starting Position: 1st
First Round Matchup: Bye

Quotable: “I feel like we learned a lot today in these conditions that we can translate to tomorrow. The Mac Tools guys performed well and the car has run so consistent. To be able to qualify in the top two this many times (eight times in the first 12 events) is incredible and just goes to show how amazing my Mac Tools team is. I am very excited about tomorrow.”
Notes: This is Kalitta’s 46th career no.1 qualifier and third in four seasons in Norwalk (2013, 2015, 2016). It is the third race in Kalitta Motorsports history that we have swept the nitro pole qualifying positions (2014 Atlanta, 2014 Fall Charlotte). It is Kalitta’s third no.1 qualifier of the season (Phoenix, Atlanta). His 3.719 second pass reset the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park Track Record.

J.R. Todd, driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster

Q1: 3.773 sec. at 324.44 MPH
Q2: 3.759 sec. at 319.75 MPH
Q3: 4.480 sec. at 175.75 MPH
Q4: 3.832 sec. at 318.17 MPH
Bonus Points: 4 pts. (Second best of the first session, second best of the final session)

Starting Position: 5th
First Round Matchup: Terry McMillen

Quotable: “It was exciting to have a solid Friday and start our weekend off right. Then, to run the 3.83 pass in the heat of day has me pumped. We should see similar conditions tomorrow, and so I know the guys are ready. The SealMaster boys have been working hard, and we would love to deliver a win to all of the great SealMaster guests here with us this weekend at their home track.”

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car

Q1: 3.959 sec. at 321.65 MPH
Q2: 3.875 sec. at 328.70 MPH
Q3: 4.466 sec. at 193.54 MPH
Q4: 3.994 sec. at 317.34 MPH
Bonus Points: 3 pts. (Best in the second session)

Starting Position: 1st
First Round Matchup: Bye

Quotable: “Not the way we wanted to be celebrating the pole. That is just the second time in 25 years of racing that my chutes did not come out. Very disappointing because we only had a few runs on that DHL Toyota Camry body. However, my DHL guys are all-Championship winning crew members and they are the best. I have no doubt they will get this put back together. We will throw another Toyota Camry body on it, and we will give it everything we have tomorrow.”

Notes: This is Worsham’s first pole of the season, 11th in his Funny Car career and 18th overall. Worsham is the only driver in NHRA history to own poles in Top Fuel and Funny Car at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. It is his second in three seasons in Norwalk (2014). It is the third race in Kalitta Motorsports history that we have swept the nitro pole qualifying positions (2014 Atlanta, 2014 Fall Charlotte). Worsham’s 3.875 second run is a career-best and reset the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park track record. His 328.70 MPH is also a track record.

#NHRAonFOX Telecast information:

6/25 Qualifying (FS1) – 12:00 am – 1:00 am
6/26 Race (FS1) – 11:00am – 1:30pm – LIVE
6/26 Race (FS2) – 6:30pm – 9:30pm
All times are EST.

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 Champion, 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.