Post-Qualifying Report Event 19: Carolina Nationals zMax Dragway Charlotte September 16 – 18

Doug Kalitta

Doug Kalitta

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Q1: 3.786 sec. at 323.19 MPH
Q2: 3.721 sec. at 325.37 MPH
Q3: 3.775 sec. at 322.66 MPH
Q4: 3.774 sec. at 327.11 MPH

Bonus Points: 6 pts. (Third-best of the first session, best of the second session, second-best of the final session)
Starting Position: 1st
First Round Matchup: Ike Maier
Quotable: “Proud of the entire Mac Tools team. Four clean passes in varying conditions is a great way to start this Countdown push. Great crowd here today at zMax Dragway and I am excited to have my first no.1 qualifier here in Charlotte. This is a great facility and I am excited to race here tomorrow.”
Notes: This is Kalitta’s fourth no.1 qualifying spot of the season (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk) and the first of his career at zMax Dragway. It is the 47th no.1 qualifying position earned by Kalitta which ties him for 12th all-time.

JR Todd

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

Q1: 3.822 sec. at 321.65 MPH
Q2: 3.741 sec. at 325.37 MPH
Q3: 7.445 sec. at 87.42 MPH
Q4: 4.197 sec. at 202.09 MPH

Starting Position: 6th
First Round Matchup: Pat Dakin
Quotable: “Great Friday qualifying passes allowed us to test some things with this SealMaster Toyota on Saturday, so we are ready to go racing tomorrow. The weather looks like it will be warm, but I am confident in our tune-up and I look forward to going rounds tomorrow at the Carolina Nationals.”

Del Worsham

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car

Q1: 3.963 sec. at 318.99 MPH
Q2: 5.953 sec. at 115.73 MPH
Q3: 11.757 sec. at 78.78 MPH
Q4: 3.971 sec. at 318.02 MPH

Starting Position: 12th
First Round Matchup: Jack Beckman
Quotable: “We have great weather and a great track. A couple glitches the last couple runs, but that is a good way to end qualifying by getting the DHL Toyota Camry down the track. It was exciting to win here last year and that is the plan again this season.”

All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

Alexis DeJoria

Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car

Q1: 3.965 sec. at 322.27 MPH
Q2: 3.887 sec. at 324.67 MPH
Q3: 3.926 sec. at 324.12 MPH
Q4: 3.942 sec. at 324.59 MPH

Bonus Points: 1 pt. (Third-best of the third session)
Starting Position: 4th
First Round Matchup: John Bojec

For further requests for Alexis DeJoria, please contact:

Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

Photo is courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

PR Contact:

(Doug Kalitta, Del Worsham, J.R. Todd)
Cody Poor
cody@kalittaracing.com

#NHRAonFOX Telecast information:
9/18 Qualifying (FS1) – 11:00am – 12:00pm
9/18 Race (FS1) – 2:30pm – 5:30pm – LIVE

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. Team Kalitta also manages the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. 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, Todd Smith on the McLeod Racing 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.