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


Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster – No. 13 qualifier, advanced to round one


Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools team turned away from Phoenix victory

PHOENIX, Ariz., (Feb. 24, 2008) – Sunday at the second event of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Int’l Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., Doug Kalitta, driver of the 8,000-horsepower “Big Red” Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, had his dreams of winning in the desert for a second time dashed in the opening round of the 16-car final eliminations.

Kalitta, the No. 13 qualifier (4.713 seconds, 298.47 mph), faced No. 4 qualifier Tony Schumacher in the opening round of final eliminations for the second consecutive event. Unfortunately for Kalitta and his Mac Tools team, the results were the same as they were at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif. Kalitta’s rail shook its big rear tires quickly after the race began and, despite a valiant effort by Kalitta to get his race car to regain traction, he had to surrender the win to his opponent, 4.817 sec., 308.43 mph to 4.541 sec., 329.83 mph.

Kalitta won the event in Phoenix in 2001.

Since winning the NHRA’s equivalent of Rookie of the Year, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award after the 1998 drag racing season, Kalitta has driven his dragster to 30 Top Fuel national event titles, which places him in sixth in career wins for the sport’s quickest and fastest class. In the past five NHRA seasons, Kalitta has solidified his place among the best Top Fuel pilots of all-time. In 2006, he won a career-high five national events in 2006 and led the POWERade points for almost the entire second half of the season. After finishing just 14 points shy of his first NHRA championship, Kalitta garnered his third career runner-up points finish in 2006. He was also points runner-up in 2003 and 2004. In 2007, he won one event – the event held in Richmond, Va.

The Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals was 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.