Team Kalitta Qualifying Recap – U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6, 2015) – Kalitta Motorsports, the nitro-fueled, four-car NHRA drag racing team based in Ypsilanti, Mich., has completed qualifying for the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Results and quotes follow. The first qualifying session on Friday was cancelled due to weather.

J.R. Todd – Driver of the Optima Batteries Top Fuel Dragster:

• Q2: 4.462 sec., 188.83 mph
• Q3: 3.795 sec., 323.53 mph
• Q4: 5.743 sec., 118.11 mph
• Q5: 4.400 sec., 189.12 mph

No. 5 Qualifier

Note: On Saturday, J.R. Todd competed in his first Traxxas Shootout. He was defeated in the first round by Antron Brown, who was the eventual winner.

J.R. Todd clinched his spot in the Countdown for the Championship on Sunday.

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the DEWALT Made in the USA Top Fuel Dragster:

Q2: 8.139 sec., 93.14 mph
Q3: 6.588 sec., 86.46 mph
Q4: 4.002 sec., 266.42 mph
Q5: 3.995 sec., 290.63 mph

No. 16 Qualifier

Note: On Saturday, Doug Kalitta competed in the Traxxas Shootout. He advanced to the finals by defeating Shawn Langdon in the first round and Clay Millican in the semi-finals. He was defeated by Antron Brown in the final round.

Doug Kalitta also clinched his spot in the Countdown for the Championship on Sunday.

Del Worsham – Driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car:

Q2: 4.125 sec., 305.22 mph
Q3: 3.978 sec., 322.11 mph
Q4: 4.847 sec., 162.68 mph
Q5: 4.102 sec., 305.49 mph (Earned two bonus points for the second quickest run of the session.)

No. 4 Qualifier

Note: The third round qualifying pass for Del Worsham reset his career-best elapsed time at 3.978. This is the second consecutive weekend that Worsham has reset his career-best elapsed time.

Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car:

Q2: 4.998 sec., 155.63 mph
Q3: 4.000 sec., 314.97 mph
Q4: 4.125 sec., 308.50 mph
Q5: 4.324 sec., 221.34 mph

No. 6 Qualifier

First Round Competition:

5) J.R. Todd v. 12) Antron Brown

16) Doug Kalitta v. 1) Larry Dixon

4) Del Worsham v. 13) Chad Head

6) Alexis DeJoria v. 11) Courtney Force

Quotables:

Doug Kalitta, driver of the DEWALT Made in the USA Top Fuel Dragster: “Tough conditions out there. We got behind it and should have gotten bumped out, and we didn’t. That is probably a good sign for the DEWALT team tomorrow that we have that luck on our side.”

J.R. Todd, driver of the Optima Batteries Top Fuel Dragster: “We got a night run to get a good qualifying spot, but once again, we do not get a good draw. We struggled in the heat, so we have our work cut out for us tomorrow. I have faith in these Optima Batteries guys and we will try to turn on four win lights tomorrow.”

Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car: “Well, there is no time like the present. We are going to get this figured out right away in the first round. Courtney and I, duking it out for that last spot in the countdown. Hot conditions, we have made it down the track almost every time. I feel pretty good about our chances, but you never know. This is NHRA drag racing, but I hope things are in our favor.”

Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car: “The DHL team really stepped it up today, and I am confident in our hot weather set-up. Conditions should be similar tomorrow as they were today, so we should be good. Unfortunately drew Chad again, but that’s racing and we will go up and try to get around him.”

ESPN TV Schedule:

09/06 Qualifications – 11:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. EST (ESPN2)

09/07 Eliminations – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST (ESPN)

Times and dates subject to change.

Event Schedule:

Sunday’s eliminations begin at 11:00 a.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 five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Del Worsham drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Team Kalitta. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the DEWALT Made in the USA 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, by Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the DEWALT Made in the USA Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Optima Batteries, Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, 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 –

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