Team Kalitta Qualifying Recap – 4-Wide NHRA Nationals

CHARLOTTE (April 23, 2016) – Kalitta Motorsports, the nitro-fueled, four-car NHRA drag racing team based in Ypsilanti, Mich., has completed qualifying for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods at zMax Dragway in Charlotte. Results and quotes follow. Please note that the Friday evening session was cancelled due to weather.

J.R. Todd – Driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster: Q1: No run; mechanical malfunction Q3: 3.954 sec., 269.40 mph Q4: 3.743 sec., 324.28 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the session.)

No. 2 Qualifier

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster: Q1: 3.844 sec., 315.64 mph Q3: 3.752 sec., 325.92 mph (Two bonus points for the second quickest run of the session.) Q4: 3.768 sec., 320.89 mph

No. 4 Qualifier

Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car: Q1: 4.005 sec., 310.98 mph Q3: 3.939 sec., 316.52 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the round.) Q4: 3.934 sec., 321.04 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the round.)

No. 1 Qualifier

(The 3.934 second run was Alexis DeJoria’s career best pass and reset the track record. It is her first pole of the season and fourth of her career. It is the first pole since the 2014 World Finals in Pomona. This is Kalitta Motorsports’ 10th Funny Car no.1 qualifier.)

Del Worsham – Driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: Q1: 7.957 sec., 83.65 mph Q3: 3.983 sec., 317.72 mph Q4: 3.963 sec., 317.57 mph

No. 5 Qualifier

First Round Competition:

2) J.R. Todd v. 7) Richie Crampton, 10) Terry McMillen and 15) Chris Karamesines

4) Doug Kalitta v. 5) Clay Millican, 12) Scott Palmer and 13) Smax Smith

1) Alexis DeJoria v. 8) Tim Wilkerson, 9) Robert Hight and 16) Jeff Diehl

5) Del Worsham v. 4) Courtney Force, 12) Cruz Pedregon and 13) John Hale

Quotables:

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster: “The Mac Tools team has been very consistent and competitive throughout the race weekend. We have made it down the track every time and that gives me extreme confidence in our team tomorrow. We get the first lane choice tomorrow and that could be big. We will see how this goes.”

J.R. Todd, driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster: “A rough start but a strong finish for these SealMaster Toyota guys. That 3.74 second run was a great pass and a great way to finish up qualifying. Lane choice is critical in this event and that got us where we want to be. We will get back to work and be ready for 4-Wide eliminations.”

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: “We were strong today in conditions that look to be similar to what we expect tomorrow, so I am very excited. We came so close to winning this race last season, and there is nothing else I want to do than put this DHL Toyota Camry in the winner’s circle.

FOX Sports TV Schedule:

04/23 Qualifying – 10:00 p.m – 12:00 a.m. EST (FS1)

04/24 Eliminations – 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST (FS1) Times and dates subject to change. Event Schedule: Sunday’s eliminations begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.Times and dates subject to change.

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 Champions, 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.

 

Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports: For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit #KalittaStrong online – Website: www.teamkalitta.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamKalitta Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta Instagram: www.instagram.com/TeamKalitta