Pre-Race Report Event 22: AAA Fall Nationals Texas Motorplex Dallas Oct. 13-16

 

Kalitta looks for third Dallas triumph

Dallas Highlights: Two wins (2013, 2002); Three finals (2001, 1999, 1998); One no.1 qualifier (2004)

2015 Dallas Event Recap: Qualified 11th; First round defeat (Lost to Richie Crampton in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Reading): Qualified fourth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Ike Maier in the first round, lost to Brittany Force in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “We lost a little bit of ground in Reading, but I know this Mac Tools team has what it takes to get it done. Dallas has been good for the Kalitta team as a whole recently. We will use that data to hopefully have another solid race this weekend.”

Career Stats: 431 starts, 583 round wins (11th all-time), 41 wins (Fourth 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); 51 overall Countdown starts; 2 wins; 2 No. 1 qualifiers; 45 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Four No.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-II); Two finals (Pomona, Charlotte-II); 38 round wins

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

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 18 of 21 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; winner of two of the last three races held in Texas (2015 and 2016 Houston winner)

 

Todd desires strong 2016 finish

Dallas Highlights: One win (2008); One final (2014); Two No.1 qualifiers (2014, 2007)

2015 Dallas Event Recap: Qualified 10th; First round defeat (lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Reading): Qualified 15th; First round defeat (lost to Antron Brown in the first round)

Quotable: “I am excited to get back on track with this SealMaster Toyota team. Reading was a unique event but it did not go our way. However, I know we still have a great car and are ready for this weekend. Couple years back we had a nice Dallas race and I would really like to take that a step further and get the win.”

Career Stats: 145 starts, 141 round wins, 9 wins, 17 finals, 8 no.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Fourth appearance; third consecutive appearance; 21 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: Eighth (-194); trails seventh-place Leah Pritchett by five points, leads ninth-place Richie Crampton by 24 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 ten races; Dallas is Todd’s 150th career event

Last season’s Dallas victor, Worsham plans for a repeat

Dallas Highlights: Three wins (2015, 2004, 2002); One final (2014); One No. 1 qualifier (2015)

2015 Dallas Event Recap: Qualified first; Race Winner (Defeated John Hale in the first round, Alexis DeJoria in the quarter-finals, Ron Capps in the semi-finals and Jack Beckman in the final)

Previous Event Recap (Reading): Qualified third; Quarter-final finish (Defeated John Force in the first round, lost to Jack Beckman in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “Dallas was a lot of fun last season for this DHL Toyota team. We started up front and continued that run throughout Sunday. I would love a repeat this season and another cool Texas Motorplex cowboy hat.”

Career Stats: 504 starts, 555 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; 39 overall Countdown starts; eight wins (6 FC, 2 TF); 3 No.1 qualifiers (1 FC, 2 TF); 59 total Countdown round wins (46 FC, 13 TF)

2016 Season Stats: One win (Brainerd); Four finals (Pomona-I, Las Vegas-I, Seattle, Indianapolis); Three No. 1 qualifiers (Norwalk, Sonoma, Seattle); 33 round wins

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

Noteworthy: Reigning Dallas No.1 qualifier and race winner; Six semi-finals or better in the last eight 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 17 first round wins this season

PR Contact:

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

DeJoria Dallas pre-race notes

Dallas Highlights: Site of first career professional event (2011)

2015 Dallas Event Recap: Qualified ninth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Tim Wilkerson in the first round, lost to Del Worsham in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Reading): Qualified 13th; First round defeat (Lost to Ron Capps in the first round)

Career Stats: 114 starts, 81 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 No.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Third consecutive appearance; 15 overall Countdown starts; 2 No.1 qualifiers; 11 total Countdown round wins

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

Point Standings: 10th (-269); trails ninth-place Courtney Force by 83 points
For further requests on Alexis DeJoria, please contact:

Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

Photos 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. 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.