FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 2 of 24
Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals
Firebird Int’l Raceway
Phoenix, Ariz.
Feb. 22-24, 2008

Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com



Dave Grubnic and the Kalitta Motorsports team expecting exciting elapsed times in Phoenix

PHOENIX, Ariz., (Feb. 21, 2008) – This weekend, Feb. 22-24, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series makes its annual stop at Firebird Int’l Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., for the running of the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals. Top Fuel ace and native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the 8,000-horsepower Kalitta Motorsports dragster, is extremely eager to get on the quarter-mile race track with a favorable forecast for fast, nitro-fueled action at Firebird.

“The weatherman says it’s going to be great drag racing weather this weekend,” Grubnic, a 45-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “I hope he’s right. Under cool conditions, nitro cars can put up some amazing numbers, and our race car is certainly capable of being up there among the best, so we’re really looking forward to getting our Kalitta Motorsports dragster out on the track to see what kind of numbers we can post. I think it’s going to be a very entertaining weekend for the fans and the drivers.”

Grubnic was the No. 1 qualifier for the Phoenix event in 2004.

Grubnic’s crew chief, team owner and drag racing legend Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta will celebrate his 70th birthday this Sunday, Feb. 24.

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. He has one other event victory to date, the 2006 running of the famed Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

The Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 2:00 p.m. (MT) and 4:30 p.m. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. 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 Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals is the 2nd 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 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 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, and K2M.