Pre-Race Report Event 23: Toyota Nationals The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas Oct. 28 – 30

Kalitta plans for a Sin City repeat

Las Vegas Highlights: Two wins (Fall 2015, Fall 2004); Four finals (Spring 2014, Fall 2007, Spring 2005, Spring 2003); Two no.1 qualifiers (Spring 2005, Spring 2003)

2016 Spring Las Vegas Event Recap: Qualified second; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Steve Faria in the first round, lost to Dave Connolly in the quarter-finals.)

2015 Toyota Nationals Event Recap: Qualified 13th; Race Winner (Defeated Steve Torrence in the first round, Richie Crampton in the quarter-finals, Antron Brown in the semi-finals and Larry Dixon in the final)

Previous Event Recap (Dallas): Qualified ninth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Richie Crampton in the first round, lost to Antron Brown in the quarter-finals.)

Quotable: “Las Vegas is a great track for Kalitta Motorsports as a whole; I won the Toyota Nationals last season and then we had that great all-Kalitta Toyota Funny Car final here in the Spring. I am very proud of this Mac Tools Toyota team. They continue to fight and work hard. We are going to go into the Toyota Nationals planning to win and using that momentum to finish the season strong.”

Career Stats: 432 starts, 584 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); 52 overall Countdown starts; 2 wins; 2 No. 1 qualifiers; 46 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Four No.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-II); Two finals (Pomona-I, Charlotte-II); 39 round wins

Point Standings: Second (-150); trails first-place Antron Brown by 150 points, leads third-place Shawn Langdon by 22 points

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 19 of 22 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

After seasons of Vegas success, Todd looks for first victory

Las Vegas Highlights: Two finals (Fall 2014, Fall 2006); Two No.1 qualifiers (Spring 2015, Fall 2014)

2016 Spring Las Vegas Event Recap: Qualified ninth; Semi-finalist (Defeated Tony Schumacher in the first round and Steve Chrisman in the quarter-finals, lost to Troy Buff in the semi-finals)

2015 Toyota Nationals Event Recap: Qualified seventh; First round defeat (lost to Troy Schumacher in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Dallas): Qualified fourth; Semi-finalist (Defeated Troy Buff in the first round and Brittany Force in the quarter-finals, lost to Antron Brown in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “Las Vegas has been a great track for me and the SealMaster team. We have been close many times and I would love to finally claim that Vegas win this weekend.”

Career Stats: 146 starts, 143 round wins, 9 wins, 17 finals, 8 No.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Fourth appearance; third consecutive appearance; 22 Countdown starts; 3 finals; 4 No. 1 qualifiers; 24 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Three finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago); 31 round wins

Point Standings: Seventh (-244); trails sixth-place Tony Schumacher by 35 points, leads eighth-place Leah Pritchett by 10 points

Noteworthy: Currently has 31 round wins, which is a career-high (previous high was 25; earned 20 round wins in 2015); eight semi-finals or better in the last 11 races

March’s Vegas finalist Worsham desires to finish first

Las Vegas Highlights: Two wins (Fall 2014-FC, Fall 2011-TF); One final (Fall 2016-FC); Three No. 1 qualifiers (Fall 2011-TF, Spring 2010-FC, Fall 2004-FC)

2016 Spring Las Vegas Event Recap: Qualified fifth; Finalist (Defeated John Hale in the first round, Jim Campbell in the quarter-finals and Chad Head in the semi-finals, lost to Alexis DeJoria in the final)

2015 Toyota Nationals Event Recap: Qualified sixth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Matt Hagan in the first round, lost to Robert Hight in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Dallas): Qualified sixth; Semi-finalist (Defeated Chad Head in the first round and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the quarter-finals, lost to Ron Capps in the semi-finals)

Quotable: “The Toyota Nationals have been a good race for us. Winning here in 2014 was a big breakthrough and finishing a season strong is always good for morale. When one of your sponsors, Toyota, backs the race, you always want to perform and that is what this DHL Toyota team is planning on doing this weekend.”

Career Stats: 505 starts, 557 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; 40 overall Countdown starts; eight wins (6 FC, 2 TF); 3 No.1 qualifiers (1 FC, 2 TF); 61 total Countdown round wins (48 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); 35 round wins

Point Standings: Fifth (-122); trails fourth-place Jack Beckman by 14 points, leads sixth-place Robert Hight by 42 points

Noteworthy: Seven semi-finals or better in the last nine 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 18 first round wins this season; only driver with a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
PR Contact:

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

All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.

DeJoria Las Vegas pre-race notes

Las Vegas Highlights: Two wins (Spring 2016, Spring 2014)

2016 Spring Las Vegas Event Recap: Qualified sixth; Race Winner (Defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first round, Robert Hight in the quarter-finals, John Force in the semi-finals and Del Worsham in the final)

2015 Toyota Nationals Event Recap: Qualified ninth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated John Force in the first round, lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Dallas): Qualified ninth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated John Force in the first round, lost to Robert Hight in the quarter-finals)

Career Stats: 115 starts, 82 round wins, 4 wins, 7 finals, 4 No.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Third consecutive appearance; 16 overall Countdown starts; 2 No.1 qualifiers; 12 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Las Vegas-I); One semifinal (Bristol); One No. 1 qualifier (Charlotte-I); 13 round wins

Point Standings: 10th (-314); trails ninth-place Tim Wilkerson by 77 points
For further requests on Alexis DeJoria, please contact:

Allison McCormick
allison@alexisdejoria.com

Photo is courtesy of Gary Nastase.

Lee Las Vegas pre-race notes

2015 Toyota Nationals Event Recap: Qualified 15th; First round defeat (Lost to Courtney Force in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (2015 Auto Club Finals – Pomona, Calif.): Qualified 13th; First round defeat (Lost to Matt Hagan in the first round)

Career Stats: 53 starts, 13 round wins

2016 Season Stats: Season debut
For further requests on Paul Lee, please contact:

Krista Baldwin
Krista.Baldwin@McLeodRacing.com

Photo is courtesy of Kalitta Motorsports

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. Kalitta Motorsports will expand to a sixth entry in 2017 with AAA Road to the Future candidate, Troy Coughlin, Jr. 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.