Worsham looks to hit career milestone on Father’s Day Bristol event

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – (June 17, 2015) – Last time Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, was at Bristol Dragway, his 3.992-second run at nearly 320 mph lit up the scoreboards and the record books, setting the track record at Thunder Valley for both speed and ET.

The Thunder Valley Nationals have been kind to Worsham throughout his seasons with Kalitta Motorsports. In 2012, his only season as Alexis DeJoria’s crew chief, Worsham tuned DeJoria to her first final round appearance. Since then, in his two driving starts for Team Kalitta, he has qualified first both seasons and has earned three round wins.

However, this season has the potential to be even more special for Worsham. Earning his third career Bristol Dragway race win would not only lock Worsham into the exclusive TRAXXAS Shootout; it would give him career round win 500.

Worsham’s outstanding career expands multiple decades. Since earning his first victory in 1991 at the young age of 21, he has added 33 additional wins to rank among the top 25 overall. Worsham will be the 17th driver to hit this milestone, and join only Kenny Bernstein and Ron Capps among that group with round wins in Funny Car and Top Fuel classes.

“A lot of great history in Bristol,” said Worsham. “The fans are always great at this track and the DHL team plans on giving them something to cheer about on Sunday.”

Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, is one of those drivers Worsham would join in the 500

round win club. Kalitta has 528 round wins which is 12th all-time.

Kalitta looks to rebound after a round one defeat last weekend in Epping. Bristol seems like a good place to start. Last season, the Mac Tools team drove to the final round at the Thunder Valley Nationals defeating Antron Brown in the semi-finals. Since 2009, Kalitta has seen the final round at Bristol Dragway three times. Combine that with three race wins (2001, 2005 and 2006), Kalitta is a favorite going into the race weekend.

“It is the last race of three straight, and we definitely want to go into the off week on a good note,” said Kalitta. “My Mac Tools team has had a solid run recently in Bristol and we look for that to continue this weekend.”

J.R. Todd, driver of the Kalitta Air Top Fuel Dragster, is hoping that Bristol Dragway is where the luck finally turns.

Todd, who owns seven straight top half qualifying positions, has lost two close decisions in Englishtown and Epping to slip back to ninth in the standings. He continues to sit just two rounds outside 100 for his career.

“Our luck is bound to change her soon,” said Todd. “The Kalitta Air team continues to run strong, and we are planning to go rounds this weekend.”

Todd, who will unveil a new primary sponsor for the Norwalk and Denver events on Tuesday following the

Thunder Valley Nationals, has earned the second most bonus points this season, and qualified second in his first Bristol Dragway appearance for Kalitta Motorsports.

Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, has a lot of great memories at Bristol Dragway. In 2012, DeJoria earned her first final round appearance in Thunder Valley.

Since then, she has had more than 50 round wins, earned multiple no.1 qualifying positions and scored three victories.

DeJoria earned one of those round wins last weekend in Epping as she defeated Ron Capps in the first round, to up her count to four round wins in this three race swing. Bristol was kind to DeJoria last season as well. She earned a top ten qualifying position and defeated multiple-time champion, John Force, in the first round.

Fans can meet Team Kalitta at Bristol Dragway’s Fan Fest on Saturday afternoon.

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 Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the Kalitta Air 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 Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster.

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

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