KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 4 of 24
O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
Houston Raceway Park
Baytown, Tex.
March 28-30, 2008
Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com
Dave Grubnic and the Kalitta Motorsports team vying for vindication in Houston
HOUSTON, (March 26, 2008) – Last year at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Tex., just east of Houston, native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, made a semi-final showing in the Lone Star state. He and his team are hoping for more at this year’s annual running of the event this weekend, March 28-30.
“We felt like we let the win in Houston slip through our fingers last year,” Grubnic, a 45-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Our car was certainly one of the best there last year, but we just barely missed a chance at getting the win (Grubnic was defeated by Joe Hartley, 4.661 seconds, 307.72 mph to 4.623 sec., 316.15 mph, in the semifinals).
“We feel great about our chances again this year. Connie (Kalitta, team owner and crew chief) and our team have the Kalitta Motorsports dragster running great so far this season. We’ve already been to a final (Phoenix), and we know we have a car that can go out and win at any time. I’m looking forward to getting back on the track at Houston, hopefully for one more lap this year.”
Grubnic is currently in 5th place (tie) in 2008 POWERade Top Fuel championship points.
In early 2004, Grubnic was hired to drive for legendary team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and Kalitta Motorsports. In the fall of ‘04, Grubnic won the lucrative and coveted Budweiser Shootout in Las Vegas, becoming only the fourth driver in the special event's history to win its $100,000 prize in his first attempt. Grubnic picked up an emotional first NHRA national event win in May, 2005 in Topeka, Kans., to become the first non-native North American to win a Top Fuel trophy.
The O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 3:00 p.m. (CT) and 6:00 p.m. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday at noon and 3:00 p.m. The top sixteen qualified cars will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.
All times and dates subject to change.
The O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals is the 4th of 24 national events in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
About Kalitta Motorsports
Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) POWERade Drag Racing Series. The racing operation was started in 1959 by now legendary drag racer and team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. His son, Scott Kalitta, drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car. Scott’s cousin, Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta drives the flagship Top Fuel dragster for Mac Tools. Native Australian Dave Grubnic drives the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, while Hillary Will drives the Ken Black-owned and Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster.
Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer (Hillary Will-driven dragster) and Jon Oberhofer (Mac Tools dragster). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car with assistance from co-crew chief Glenn Mikres and as the crew chief on the Kalitta Motorsports dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola.
Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.