Pre-Race Report Event 21: NHRA Keystone Nationals Maple Grove Raceway Reading, Penn. Sept. 29-Oct. 2

Halfway through the Countdown, Kalitta desires trophy

Reading Highlights: One win (2002); One no.1 qualifier (2004)

2015 Reading Event Recap: Qualified sixth; First round defeat (Lost to Dom Lagana in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (St. Louis): Qualified fourth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Terry McMillen in the first round, lost to Shawn Langdon in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “My team is incredibly focused. This Mac Tools/DeWalt FlexVolt Toyota is running strong and we are limiting mistakes. We are right there and know we have what it takes to compete with all of the other teams out here that are chasing that title.”

Career Stats: 430 starts, 582 round wins (11th all-time), 41 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel), 86 finals, 47 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

Countdown Stats: Ninth appearance (Kalitta has appeared in every Countdown for the Championship); 50 overall Countdown starts; 2 wins; 2 no. 1 qualifiers; 44 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Four no.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-2); Two finals (Pomona, Charlotte-2); 37 round wins

Point Standings: Second (-13); trails first-place Antron Brown by 13 points, leads third-place Tony Schumacher by 41 points

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 17 of 20 events this season; more round wins than season round win total from 2015; clinched his 19th consecutive top ten finish; only driver that has ranked among the top three in the point standings after every race this season

Former Reading victor Todd looks for second win

Reading Highlights: One win (2006)

2015 Reading Event Recap: Qualified 11th; First round defeat (lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (St. Louis): Qualified third; Semi-Finalist (Defeated Kyle Wurtzel in the first round and Pat Dakin in the quarter-finals, lost to Tony Schumacher in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “We ran well in St. Louis, and we are planning on continuing that in Reading. Connie and Rob have a great handle on this SealMaster Toyota machine. The weather looks like it could produce some prime racing conditions, so we will race hard and see if we can pick up the win.”

Career Stats: 144 starts, 141 round wins, 9 wins, 17 finals, 8 no.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Fourth appearance; third consecutive appearance; 20 Countdown starts; 3 finals; 4 No. 1 qualifiers; 22 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Three finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago); 29 round wins

Point Standings: Seventh (-106); trails sixth-place Steve Torrence by nine points, leads seventh-place Shawn Langdon by 25 points

Noteworthy: Currently has 29 round wins, which is a career-high (previous high was 25; earned 20 round wins in 2015); seven semi-finals or better in the last nine races

Worsham wants to cross Maple Grove off his list

Reading Highlights: One final (2011-TF)

2015 Reading Event Recap: Qualified sixth; First round defeat (Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (St. Louis): Qualified seventh; First round defeat (Lost to John Force in the first round)

Quotable: “We really learned a lot with his DHL Toyota Camry in testing on Monday. I think we have our car back. I am really excited to head to Reading and have some success.”

Career Stats: 503 starts, 554 round wins, 39 wins (31 in Funny Car, 8 in Top Fuel), 66 finals (55 in Funny Car, 11 in Top Fuel), 20 no.1 qualifiers (13 in Funny Car, 7 in Top Fuel)

Countdown Stats: Seventh appearance (6 in Funny Car, 1 in Top Fuel); Fourth consecutive appearance; 38 overall Countdown starts; eight wins (6 FC, 2 TF); 3 no.1 qualifiers (1 FC, 2 TF); 58 total Countdown round wins (43 FC, 13 TF)

2016 Season Stats: One win (Brainerd); Four finals (Pomona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Indianapolis); Three no.1 qualifiers (Norwalk, Sonoma, Seattle); 32 round wins

Point Standings: Fifth (-84); trails fourth-place John Force by 10 points, leads sixth-place Matt Hagan by 12 points

Noteworthy: Six semi-finals or better in the last seven events; 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 16 first round wins this season; One of three tracks Worsham has yet to claim a win (Epping, Topeka)

DeJoria Reading pre-race notes

2015 Reading Event Recap: Qualified 14th; First round defeat (Lost to Jack Beckman in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (St. Louis): Qualified ninth; First round defeat (Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first round)

Career Stats: 113 starts, 81 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 no.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Third consecutive appearance; 14 overall Countdown starts; 2 no.1 qualifiers; 11 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas); One semi-final (Bristol); One no. 1 qualifier (Charlotte-1); 12 round wins

Point Standings: 10th (-205); trails ninth-place Tim Wilkerson by 76 points

PR Contacts:

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

Alexis DeJoria
Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

All photos are 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.