Kurt Elliot
Assistant Crew Chief
Birthday
September 20th
September 20th
Hometown
Winter Springs, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
| What inspired you to start racing? My dad had a repair/machine shop, and hot rods just immediately appealed to me when I was around 10 years old. I saw one on the cover of a magazine and hounded my dad to take me to the strip, and that's when I got my start. |
| First season with Kalitta Motorsports? 2018 |
| What is your favorite racing memory? I have three... My first win (Dallas 1996), winning Indy in 1997, and winning the 2007 Championship with Tony Pedregon. |
| What is your favorite racetrack? Pomona |
| Any fun facts we should know about you? When I'm not racing, I like to be relaxing near the beach - East coast or West. It makes all the stress melt away! |
James Riola
Ignition/Fuel System Specialist
Birthday:
September 23, 1966
September 23, 1966
Hometown:
Santa Maria, Ca
Santa Maria, Ca
| What inspired you to start racing? My Dad |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 1998 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? Winning Sonoma my first year here in 1999. It was my first win. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Chicago and Topeka. |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I enjoy working on old cars and still enjoy a good thrash band show. |
Ryan Jenks
Car Chief / Blower Specialist
Birthday:
September 28, 1989
September 28, 1989
Hometown:
Jamestown, Ohio
Jamestown, Ohio
| What inspired you to start racing? I grew up drag racing since 2000. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2016 |
|
| Favorite Racing Memory? Winning Sonoma with J.R. in 2016, it was my first win. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Bristol |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? Icees are like my coffee in the morning. |
Frank Plotkowski
Clutch Specialist
Birthday:
February 9, 1993
February 9, 1993
Hometown:
St. Clair Shores, Mi
St. Clair Shores, Mi
| What inspired you to start racing? I grew up around it because my dad and brother raced. I wanted to keep moving up, and I love it. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2012 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? Denver 2014, my first win. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Norwalk |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I am currently building a '64 Plymouth Barracuda. |
Kody Ogan
Clutch Assistant
Hometown:
Warsaw, IN
Warsaw, IN
| What inspired you to start racing? My first time watching a pair of Top Fuel Dragsters run at the U.S. Nationals when I was 8 years old. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2019 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? Winning my first race in Gainesville in 2019 |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I can cook minute rice in 58 seconds. |
Ryan Miller
Cylinder Head Specialist
Birthday:
December 7, 1993
December 7, 1993
Hometown:
Placentia, Calif.
Placentia, Calif.
| What inspired you to start racing? I just grew up and knew I wanted to go racing. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2017 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? Winning JEGS All-Stars in 2016. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Denver |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I'm a Mormon. |
Dan Hare
Shortblock Specialist
Birthday:
July 16, 1993
July 16, 1993
Hometown:
Doylestown, PA
Doylestown, PA
| What inspired you to start racing? My dad got me into racing by bringing me along to drag races and his Indy Car races. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2017 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? Watching the first shortblock I built by myself fire up and make a pass without issue. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Charlotte |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I like to talk. |
Ben DeYoung
Cylinder Head Assistant
Birthday:
December 5th, 1997
December 5th, 1997
Hometown:
Lansing, IL
Lansing, IL
| What inspired you to start racing? I rebuilt an engine with a couple guys in my cadet group and got into cars and hooked on motorsports. |
|
| What was your first season for Kalitta Motorsports? 2018 |
|
| What is your favorite racing memory? My first win with Kalitta Motorsports in Gainesville 2018. |
|
| What is your favorite racetrack? Gainesville |
|
| Any fun facts we should know about you? I won my first race I ever went to. |
