Pre-Race Report Event 17: U.S. Nationals Indianapolis Raceway Park Indianapolis, Ind. Aug. 31 – Sept. 5

Kalitta desires first U.S. Nationals trophy

Indianapolis Highlights: Two finals (2008, 2004); Two poles (2004, 2000)

2015 Indianapolis Event Recap: Qualified 16th; Quarter-Final finish (beat Larry Dixon in the first round, lost to Shawn Langdon in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified sixth; Quarter-Final finish (beat Morgan Lucas in the first round, lost to Brittany Force in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “It has been a while since Team Kalitta has earned a Top Fuel Wally in Indianapolis, and I would love to finally have one. We did really well in testing one week ago, and I am confident that my Mac Tools team has what it takes to get it done.”

Career Stats: 427 starts, 576 round wins (11th all-time), 41 wins (Fourth all-time in Top Fuel), 85 finals, 46 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Three poles (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk), One final (Pomona), 31 round wins

Point Standings: Second (-157); trails first-place Antron Brown by 157 points, leads third-place Steve Torrence by 31 points

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 14 of 17 events this season; 10 semi-final or better finishes in 17 events this season; more round wins than season round win total from 2015; clinched NHRA Countdown for the Championship slot in Sonoma, his 19th consecutive top ten finish

Todd looks for success at his home track

Highlights: Six straight first round wins; 15 round wins in the last six races

2015 Indianapolis Event Recap: Qualified fifth; First round defeat (lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified 10th; Quarter-Final finish (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round, lost to Shawn Langdon in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “If you could only win one NHRA race, the one you want to win is the U.S. Nationals. Growing up in Indiana, I know the history involved in this race and I would love to take this SealMaster Toyota team into the winner’s circle.”

Career Stats: 141 starts, 137 round wins, 9 wins, 17 finals, 8 no.1 qualifiers

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Three finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago); 25 round wins

Point Standings: Sixth (-416); trails fifth-place Tony Schumacher by 119 points, leads seventh-place Shawn Langdon by 30 points

Noteworthy: Reset his career-best ET in Seattle with a 3.698 second pass (previous best was set in Brainerd last season); has won more round wins in the first 16 races of 2016 (25) then the entire 2015 season (20); 25 round wins matches his career-high for a season; clinched NHRA Countdown for the Championship slot in Seattle

Worsham plans for recent streak to continue

Indianapolis Highlights: One Indianapolis win (2005); also won the speciality race that season

2015 Indianapolis Event Recap: Qualified fourth; Semi-Final finish (beat Chad Head in the first round and Tim Wilkerson in the second round, lost to Jack Beckman in the semi-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Brainerd): Qualified second; Race Winner (defeated Bob Bode in the first round, Tim Wilkerson in the second round, Courtney Force in the semi-finals and Matt Hagan in the finals)

Quotable: “The DHL Toyota team finally got that much deserved first win of the season in Brainerd, and we are looking for that run of consistent passes to continue in Indianapolis.”

Career Stats: 500 starts, 549 round wins, 39 wins (31 in Funny Car, 8 in Top Fuel), 65 finals (54 in Funny Car, 11 in Top Fuel), 20 no.1 qualifiers (13 in Funny Car, 7 in Top Fuel)

2016 Season Stats: One win (Brainerd); Three finals (Pomona, Las Vegas, Seattle); Three poles (Norwalk, Sonoma, Seattle); 27 round wins

Point Standings: Third (-221); trails second-place Courtney Force by six points, leads fourth-place Jack Beckman by 46 points

Noteworthy: Earned first 2016 win at our most recent event in Brainerd, his first Brainerd victory; 2015 Funny Car Champion, 2011 Top Fuel Champion; one of three drivers with championships in both nitro classes, second in the Funny Car class with 14 first round wins this season; clinched NHRA Countdown for the Championship spot in Seattle

DeJoria Indianapolis pre-race notes

Indianapolis highlights: One win (2014)

2015 Indianapolis Event Recap: Qualified sixth; First round defeat (lost to Courtney Force in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Brainerd): Did not compete due to injury suffered at the Toyota Sonoma Nationals in July

Career Stats: 110 starts, 81 round wins, 4 wins, 3 finals, 4 no.1 qualifiers

2016 Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas); One semi-final (Bristol); One pole (Charlotte); 12 round wins

Point Standings: 10th (-648); trails ninth-place Tim Wilkerson by 150 points, leads 11th-place Chad Head by 87 points

For further requests on Alexis DeJoria, please contact:

Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

Photo is courtesy of Gary Nastase.

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