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
Scott Kalitta and the DHL team hoping for high-speed highlights in Houston
HOUSTON, (March 26, 2008) – This weekend’s, March 28-30, annual running of the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Tex., just a few miles out of the Houston city limits, will bring Scott Kalitta, driver of the 8,000-horsepower, bright yellow and red DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, back to the scene of his victory as a professional drag racer in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Back in 1989, a spry 27-year old Kalitta made his first trip to the Funny Car winner’s circle at Houston Raceway Park. Now, the venerable racing veteran is looking to Houston again as the place to pick up another title trophy and his first victor’s hardware since his return to the flopper class after several successful campaigns behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster.
“We’re certainly ready to get another one,” Kalitta, a 46-year old resident of Palmetto, Fla., said. “It’s been a very long time since we won a Funny Car Wally (trophy), but our DHL team is putting up some solid numbers so far this season, so I feel really good about our chances of winning in Houston.
“The Funny Car class is extremely competitive these days. There are so many teams now that can go out and win on any given weekend. To pick up a win in this day and age would be even more special.”
Kalitta is currently in 10th place in 2008 POWERade Funny Car championship points.
Kalitta is the son of team owner and drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. He returned to the Funny Car class in 2006 after many successful years at the helm of a Top Fuel dragster. He won the NHRA Top Fuel World Championship in 1994 and 1995 as well as 17 NHRA national event trophies.
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.