Todd and Worsham Race to Runner-Up Finishes in Dallas; Team Kalitta Eliminations Recap

ENNIS, Tex., (Sept 21, 2014) – Kalitta Motorsports’ J.R. Todd, driver of the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster, and Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, both raced to runner-up finishes in their respective nitro-fueled classes Sunday during eliminations of the 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Tex., just a few miles southeast of downtown Dallas.

The championship round in Dallas was the second such advancement by Todd this season. He and the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts team won the event in Denver earlier this summer. Todd has now raced in 11 championship rounds in his Top Fuel career. Todd began the Top Fuel Countdown to the Championship in 10th place in points, but has now vaulted to 5th place.

For the first time in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship “playoffs” era, all four Team Kalitta drivers and teams have the opportunity to race for the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points championship in their respective classes. All four Team Kalitta race cars finished in the top 10 in Mello Yello championship points during the “regular season” to qualify for the six-event Countdown to the Championship, which began in Charlotte last weekend.

Worsham also reached the championship round for the second time this season. He and the DHL team raced to a runner-up finish in Englishtown, N.J., as well. Del now has 54 career championship-round appearances. The DHL Toyota Camry team jumped up from 10th place to 8th place in the Funny Car Countdown to the Championship.

Team Kalitta nitro race cars have six event wins and have appeared in a team-record 20 championship rounds so far in the 24-event 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule of events this year.

Team Kalitta Eliminations Recap:

J.R. Todd  – Driver of the Optima Batteries/Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 1 Qualifier (3.761 sec., 317.87 mph)

E1: Todd defeated Lucas – 3.815 sec., 323.04 mph to 4.088 sec., 228.58 mph
E2: Todd defeated Massey – 3.864 sec., 316.67 mph to 4.147 sec., 236.55 mph
E3: Todd defeated Langdon – 4.253 sec., 237.13 mph to 4.320 sec., 270.32 mph
E4: Todd defeated by Schumacher – 4.134 sec., 251.49 mph to 3.891 sec., 318.62 mph

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

No. 10 Qualifier (4.088 sec., 307.79 mph)

E1: Worsham defeated Head – 4.213 sec., 297.16 mph to 4.257 sec., 293.09 mph
E2: Worsham defeated DeJoria – 4.272 sec., 288.03 mph to 4.340 sec., 248.93 mph
E3: Worsham defeated Wilkerson – 4.178 sec., 302.41 mph to 4.221 sec., 296.50 mph
E4: Worsham defeated by C. Force – 4.309 sec., 285.65 mph to 4.227 sec., 301.07 mph

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

No. 2 Qualifier (4.041 sec., 305.42 mph)

E1: DeJoria defeated Diehl – 4.171 sec., 299.06 mph to 6.424 sec., 104.10 mph
E2: DeJoria defeated by Worsham – 4.340 sec., 248.93 mph to 4.272 sec., 288.03 mph

Doug Kalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 2 Qualifier (3.765 sec., 326.71 mph)

E1: Kalitta defeated by Buff – 4.353 sec., 196.13 to 3.841 sec., 311.05 mph

Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship Points:

Top Fuel

1 – Tony Schumacher (2296)
2 – Steve Torrence (2190)
3 – Doug Kalitta (2189)
4 – Shawn Langdon (2181)
5 – J.R. Todd (2168)
6 – Spencer Massey (2167)
7 – Khalid alBalooshi (2156)
8 – Antron Brown (2143)
9 – Richie Crampton (2085)
10 – Brittany Force (2053)

Funny Car

1 – John Force (2258)
2 – Robert Hight (2213)
3 – Matt Hagan (2209)
4 – Courtney Force (2197)
5 – Alexis DeJoria (2164)
5 – Ron Capps (2164)
7 – Tommy Johnson Jr. (2162)
8 – Del Worsham (2135)
9 – Tim Wilkerson (2123)
10 – Cruz Pedregon (2093)

ESPN TV Schedule:

09/21/2014 Eliminations – 8:30 PM – 11:30 PM ET/5:30 PM – 8:30 PM PT (ESPN2)

Times and dates subject to change.

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