Team Kalitta Qualifying Recap – CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals – Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 27, 2016) – Kalitta Motorsports, the nitro-fueled, four-car NHRA drag racing team based in Ypsilanti, Mich., has completed qualifying for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. Results and quotes follow.

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster: Q1: 3.771 sec., 323.12 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the session.) Q2: 5.544 sec., 125.18 mph Q3: 3.747 sec., 326.00 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the session.) Q4: 3.741 sec., 320.74 mph (Three bonus points for the quickest run of the session.)

No. 1 Qualifier

– This is Doug Kalitta’s 44th career no.1 qualifier which ties him for 14th overall all-time. It is his first no.1 qualifier of the 2016 season, and first since Norwalk in 2015. This is Doug’s fourth number in Phoenix and third in the past four seasons.

J.R. Todd – Driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster: Q1: 4.854 sec., 152.28 mph Q2: 3.806 sec., 323.12 mph Q3: 3.787 sec., 318.17 mph Q4: 3.804 sec., 289.69 mph

No. 7 Qualifier

Del Worsham – Driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: Q1: 3.980 sec., 316.52 mph (Two bonus points for the second quickest run of the session.) Q2: 4.305 sec., 210.31 mph Q3: 3.985 sec., 315.71 mph Q4: 3.959 sec., 319.60 mph (One bonus point for the third quickest run of the session.)

No. 5 Qualifier

Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car: Q1: 8.307 sec., 80.95 mph Q2: 4.651 sec., 177.58 mph Q3: No time; mechanical problem Q4: 4.026 sec., 310.27 mph

No. 10 Qualifier

First Round Competition:

• 1) Doug Kalitta v. 16) Bye
• 7) J.R. Todd v. 10) Leah Pritchett
• 5) Del Worsham v. 12) Jim Campbell
• 11) Alexis DeJoria v. 6) Jack Beckman

Quotables:

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster: “What a weekend for this Mac Tools Red Line Oil Toyota team. Jim Oberhofer, Troy Fasching and the entire Mac Tools team have been on their game this weekend. We are looking forward to Sunday and hopefully crossing the finish line tomorrow.”

J.R. Todd, driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel Dragster: “We have made progress on this SealMaster ride. If we can keep all the pieces together to the finish line I think we will be dangerous tomorrow.”

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: “The DHL Toyota Camry team has been solid all weekend. Unfortunate draw in round one, but we will go strong and see if we can go four rounds tomorrow.”

FOX Sports TV Schedule:

2/27 Qualifications – 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. EST (FS1)

2/28 Eliminations – 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST (FS1) Times and dates subject to change. Event Schedule: Sunday’s eliminations begin at 11:00 p.m. MST. 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