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SEATTLE (August 6, 2016) – Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, continued his qualifying hot streak breaking the national elapsed time record by three hundredths earlier today. He now holds the two quickest runs in NHRA Funny Car history.
Worsham was the provisional number one qualifier coming into the second day of Northwest Nationals qualifying. However, weather gave the Funny Car ideal conditions leading to record-breaking passes. Worsham was a part of the last pair of Funny Cars to see the racetrack, and his 3.886 second pass from Friday had been bumped to fifth. Courtney Force had just ran two pairs before and broke the national record with a 3.855 second pass.
Worsham, Jon Oberhofer, Nicky Boninfante and the DHL team were not to be outdone. Worsham ran a blistering 3.841 second pass outrunning the previous national record by over two hundredths. The previous record was a 3.862 second pass ran by Matt Hagan earlier this season in Topeka.
However, the DHL team saved the best for last. After watching Ron Capps nearly match their pace a pair prior, the DHL leaders Boninfante and Oberhofer made adjustments to the DHL Toyota Camry and it stuck. Worsham scorched the Pacific Raceways surface, reaching the 1,000 ft line in 3.832 seconds at over 330MPH.
“We just have an incredible team working well together,” said Worsham. “We have been running this new Bounty Hunter chassis since Denver and these team at the shop built an incredible piece. Nicky and Jon O, and the guys, I cannot say enough about what they are doing. I have to thank Toyota and TRD for their help too. It is an incredible honor to be driving this DHL Toyota Camry for Connie and this entire Kalitta Motorsports team and I am excited. Tomorrow is what matters though, and we look forward to accomplishing more then.”
It was a stellar qualifying effort for the DHL team who earned their second consecutive pole, something Worsham had never achieved in his Funny Car career prior. Worsham also swept the Funny Car bonus points for the first time.
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. Kalitta Motorsports also manages the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. 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, Todd Smith on the McLeod Racing 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.