Post-Race Report Event 21: Keystone Nationals Maple Grove Raceway Reading, Penn. September 30 – October 2

 

Kalitta earns Reading round win

Race Recap: Kalitta and the DEWALT FLEXVOLT team made the most of their one qualifying pass on Saturday at Maple Grove Raceway. They earning the fourth qualifying spot with their 3.750 second pass and gained some valuable data for their first round matchup.

His draw was Ike Maier, and they were the eighth pair on track. Kalitta moved first and led all the way to the finish line to earn the round win with a 3.728 second pass. That run gave him lane choice over fellow Countdown competitior Brittany Force, but Kalitta’s day ended early with a rare foul start.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 4 (3.752 sec., 325.92 mph)

E1: Kalitta defeated Maier – 3.728 sec., 328.78 mph to 4.159 sec., 288.39 mph

E2: Kalitta defeated by B. Force – Foul to 17.366 sec., 81.36 mph

Quotable: “Not the finish we were looking for with this DEWALT Toyota. I still have the best team behind me and we are going to continue to battle hard.”

Point Standings: Second (-77); trails first-place Antron Brown by 77 points, leads third-place Brittany Force by 41 points

 

Stout qualifying effort yields a Reading round win for Worsham

Race Recap: Worsham was one of just three drivers to make it down the track in the lone qualifying session that was not cancelled due to weather this past weekend in Reading. Speeding down the track in over 325 mph, the DHL Toyota seeded third overall with his 3.904 second pass earning a bonus point for their efforts.

However, even with the solid qualifying effort, Worsham was not given a kind draw as the DHL team drew John Force in the first round for the second consecutive race weekend. This time, Worsham got the win with a wild pedaling effort to get around the legend. In the second round, Worsham drew Jack Beckman. Despite running quicker than his qualifying time, Worsham was eliminated when Beckman ran a top five all-time run.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 3 (3.904 sec., 325.77 mph)

E1: Worsham defeated J. Force – 5.020 sec., 194.24 mph to 7.836 sec., 86.56 mph

E2: Worsham defeated by Beckman – 3.907 sec., 329.83 mph to 3.850 sec., 332.26 mph

Quotable: “Great effort out of this DHL Toyota team, but it was not our day. The guys will regroup and we will be ready in a couple weeks when we return to Dallas.”

Point Standings: Fifth (-122); trails with fourth-place Matt Hagan by 12 points, leads sixth place John Force by 16 points

Quick end to a weather-hampered Reading weekend for Todd

Race Recap: With weather hampering the Keystone Nationals for the second consecutive season, Todd and the SealMaster team were hoping for a second shot on the Maple Grove Raceway. They were just one pair from the line before rains fell harder, and Todd was forced to start from the 15th position after the team struggled in their only qualifying attempt on the weekend.

The draw was the reigning champion, Antron Brown. Despite running nearly 330 mph and a time (3.748) that would have given lane choice in round two, Todd was defeated by Brown in a close race at the finish line.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 15 (5.589 sec., 125.19 mph)

E1: Todd defeated by Brown – 3.748 sec., 329.26 mph to 3.715 sec., 327.98 mph

Quotable: “Unfortunately a quick end to our day. We have three more shots at it this season and I know the SealMaster Toyota team is gunning to pick up some more trophies before we are done.”

Point Standings: Eighth (-194); trails seventh-place Leah Pritchett by five points, leads ninth-place Richie Crampton by 24 points

 

DeJoria’s new colors see early defeat

Race Recap: Despite weather affecting most of the racing this weekend in Reading, DeJoria’s pit was a bright spot on Friday and Saturday as the team debuted the latest pink Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry to support Breast Cancer Awareness. However, on track on Sunday, DeJoria’s first round matchup with Ron Capps did not go as desired as her Funny Car shook causing the chutes to deploy.

Statistics:
Qualified: No. 13 (12.151 sec., 81.44 mph)

E1: DeJoria defeated by Capps – 7.408 sec., 82.72 mph to 4.144 sec., 309.84 mph

Point Standings: 10th (-269); trails ninth-place Courtney Force by 83 points

Mello Yello Championship Points:

Top Fuel (Unofficial)

1. Antron Brown (2377)
2. Doug Kalitta (2300)
3. Brittany Force (2259)
4. Shawn Langdon (2258)
5. Tony Schumacher (2236)
6. Steve Torrence (2214)
7. Leah Pritchett (2188)
8. J.R. Todd (2183)
9. Richie Crampton (2159)
10. Clay Millican (2084)

Funny Car (Unofficial)

1. Ron Capps (2368)
2. Tommy Johnson Jr. (2344)
3. Jack Beckman (2275)
4. Matt Hagan (2258)
5. Del Worsham (2246)
6. John Force (2230)
7. Tim Wilkerson (2196)
8. Robert Hight (2193)
9. Courtney Force (2182)
10. Alexis DeJoria (2099)

PR Contacts:

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

For further requests for Alexis DeJoria, please contact:

Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

Photo is courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

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, Racing Electronics, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, Tequila Patrón, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.