Team Kalitta Qualifying Recap – Brainerd; Mello Yello Top Fuel Points Leader Kalitta to Lead Team Kalitta Charge in Brainerd Sunday

BRAINERD, Minn.,(Aug. 16, 2014) – Kalitta Motorsports, the nitro-fueled, four-car NHRA drag racing team based in Ypsilanti, Mich., has completed qualifying for the 33rd annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int’l Raceway in scenic Brainerd, Minn.

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, qualified in the No. 2 spot (3.812 sec., 322.96 mph) in the world’s quickest and fastest auto racing class and will lead Team Kalitta into Sunday’s eliminations in Brainerd.

Kalitta won the previous NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Seattle from the No. 2 qualifying spot.

Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel team clinched a berth in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series “Playoffs”, the Countdown to the Championship in Denver last month. The Countdown to the Championship consists of the final six events of the season and begins in Charlotte, Sept. 12-14. Only the top ten in Mello Yello championship points at the conclusion of the event in Indianapolis, Aug. 27 – Sept. 1, are eligible to compete in the Countdown to the Championship and to have a chance to be crowned a 2014 Mello Yello World Champion.

Team Kalitta nitro race cars have five event wins and have appeared in 16 championship rounds so far in the 24-event 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule of events this year.

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster:
Q1: 4.284 sec., 207.85 mph
Q2: 3.812 sec., 322.96 mph (Three bonus points for quickest of the session)
Q3: 4.522 sec., 176.56 mph
Q4: 3.824 sec., 317.79 mph (One bonus point for third quickest of the session)
No. 2 Qualifier

J.R. Todd  – Driver of the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster:
Q1: 10.038 sec., 76.46 mph
Q2: 4.718 sec., 157.89 mph
Q3: 6.413 sec., 106.96 mph
Q4: 3.988 sec., 268.06 mph
No. 16 Qualifier

Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Patrón XO Café Toyota Camry Funny Car:
Q1: 4.336 sec., 226.77 mph
Q2: 4.198 sec., 301.74 mph
Q3: 6.573 sec., 107.18 mph
Q4: 4.082 sec., 306.12 mph
No. 6 Qualifier

Del Worsham – Driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car:
Q1: 4.235 sec., 293.03 mph
Q2: 5.825 sec., 119.59 mph
Q3: 4.193 sec., 304.53 mph
Q4: 4.111 sec., 307.44 mph
No. 9 Qualifier

Competition:
2) Kalitta vs. 15) Karamesines
16) Todd vs. 1) Brown
6) DeJoria vs. 11) C. Force
9) Worsham vs. 8) T. Pedregon


ESPN TV Schedule:
08/16 Qualifying – 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM ET/8:00 PM – 10:00 PM PT (ESPN)
08/17 Eliminations – 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET/6:00 PM – 9:00 PM PT (ESPN2)
Times and dates subject to change.

Event Schedule:
Sunday’s eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. (CT)
Times and dates subject to change.

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
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