Worsham hits milestone at Route 66 – Team Kalitta Post-Race Report

JOLIET, Ill. (July 12, 2015) – Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, earned his 500th round win earlier today as he advanced to the semi-finals of the Route 66 Nationals.

Worsham again drove a consistent car throughout qualifying. Three passes down the track meant three 4.0 second runs. The Route 66 Nationals continued the pattern with late qualifying sessions and the DHL Yella Fellas used that to their advantage setting a 4.017 second pass to easily qualify among the top half of the field. His first opponent was friend and fellow California resident Robert Hight.

Worsham started with a great sub .050 second light, and he carried that past the faster time of Hight to earn a holeshot victory. That excellent driving job gave Worsham his 500th round win. He is only the 17th driver to reach that incredible goal.

The second round Worsham drew Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson laid down the best run of the round, which has been a consistent thing for the DHL team to have to face.

“My hats off to Wilkerson. What a run for those guys,” said Worsham. “To get my 500th round win, the DHL Toyota Camry ran well. I think we had a mechanical problem on that last past, but the crew chiefs did a great job. We will get back to Ypsilanti and figure out what went wrong.”

Worsham gained a spot to sit third in the standings, just 11 points outside of second.

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, stumbled a bit in the first qualifying session before lighting up the scoreboards with two 3.7 seconds passes. The Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster was tuned up for the fourth session, but the rains came and Kalitta would be left in the top half in the eighth position.

The formidable Don Schumacher Racing team and Spencer Massey would be the first opponent for the Mac Tools team. Kalitta was down early in the run but was able to get around Massey on the top end to earn another round win. A cylinder out ended his day against Antron Brown in the second session.

“It is always exciting to see a teammate reach an incredible number,” said Kalitta. “A cylinder out early meant that our day was done early, but the Mac Tools team will get it put back together and ready for Denver.”

Doug Kalitta moves to the Western Swing sitting in the top five in the point standings.

J.R. Todd, driver of the MAD Creative Concepts Top Fuel dragster, showcased a new scheme during the Route 66 Nationals to rave reviews as MAD Creative Concepts took to the track for the first time.

Todd showed the colors what it was like to go fast. The MAD Creative Concepts team earned bonus points in the first session after running the third quickest time and was prepared throughout qualifying. Three solid passes all 3.80 or better set Todd with the seventh qualifying position and a first match with Leah Pritchett.

Todd and Pritchett were the first machines out to test the Route 66 Raceway after rain cut the day prior early, and the MAD Creative Concepts team was not bashful. A 3.73 second run not only bettered his qualifying number; it proved to be the best pass of the round. Todd’s reaction time was also solid as he beat Pritchett off of the line by two hundredths.

A crowd-pleasing pedal fest did not go Todd’s way in the second round to end his day much earlier than he would have hoped.

“It was great to welcome all of the awesome people from MAD Creative Concepts to drag racing,” said Todd. “We wanted to show them the winner’s circle, but today was not our day. I look forward to Denver and hopefully repeating on the mountain.”

Todd retains his ninth position in the points standings and moves a round closer to Brittany Force in eighth.

Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, missed on the first qualifying session but was able to run two solid 4.0 second passes in the second and third runs. Tommy DeLago guided her into a very competitive Funny Car field among the top ten starters.

DeJoria was the last pair to the line after a long nitro session, and unfortunately, was not able to put on the win light for the team. She gained five points over Courtney Force in 11th, and continues to sit inside the top ten with five races remaining prior to the countdown.

After 13 races, Team Kalitta nitro race cars have won two events, advanced to six final rounds and earned three no.1 qualifying positions. Team Kalitta has one week off prior to the beginning of the annual Western Swing, which begins in Denver.

Worsham hits milestone at Route 66 – Team Kalitta Post-Race Report – Chicago

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

No. 7 Qualifier (4.017 sec., 316.75 mph)

E1: Worsham defeated Hight – 4.091 sec., 311.99 mph to 4.070 sec., 316.45 mph

E2: Worsham defeated by Wilkerson – 5.912 sec., 163.43 mph to 4.032 sec., 315.34 mph

DougKalitta – Driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 8 Qualifier (3.763 sec., 324.36 mph)

E1: Kalitta defeated Massey – 3.784 sec., 316.23 mph to 3.866 sec., 260.66 mph;

E2: Kalitta defeated by Brown – 4.000 sec., 297.09 mph to 3.817 sec., 319.29 mph

J.R. Todd – Driver of the MAD Creative Concepts Top Fuel Dragster:

No. 7 Qualifier (3.756 sec., 326.71 mph)

E1: Todd defeated Pritchett – 3.738 sec., 325.22 mph to broke

E2: Todd defeated by Schumacher – 9.982 sec., 76.79 mph to 5.375 sec., 271.08 mph

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

No. 9 Qualifier (4.024 sec., 317.72 mph)

E1: DeJoria defeated J. Force – 4.087 sec., 312.06 mph to 4.107 sec., 316.08 mph

Mello Yello Championship Points:

Top Fuel (Unofficial)

1. Tony Schumacher (1028)
2. Antron Brown (1008)
3. Larry Dixon (848)
4. Doug Kalitta (844)
5. Richie Crampton (796)
6. Spencer Massey (752)
7. Shawn Langdon (696)
8. Brittany Force (681)
9. J.R. Todd (651)
10. Steve Torrence (609)

Funny Car(Unofficial)

1. Matt Hagan (1024)
2. Ron Capps (846)
3. Del Worsham (835)
4. Jack Beckman (835)
5. John Force (801)
6. Tommy Johnson Jr. (798)
7. Cruz Pedregon (738)
8. Tim Wilkerson (722)
9. Robert Hight (667)
10.Alexis DeJoria (658)

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

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 CaféIncendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the MAD Creative Concepts 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, by Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO CaféIncendio Toyota Camry Funny Car,and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the MAD Creative Concepts Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’race cars include Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air,Patrón XO CaféIncendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.