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



Scott Kalitta and the DHL team hope to celebrate the big 7-0 in the Phoenix winner’s circle

PHOENIX, Ariz., (Feb. 20, 2008) – For drag racing veteran Scott Kalitta, driver of the 7,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled DHL Funny Car, this weekend’s annual running of the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Int’l Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., has the potential to be cause for multiple celebrations in the desert.

This Sunday, as final eliminations of the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals will be thrilling race fans with the most exciting form of auto racing in the world, Scott’s dad and Kalitta Motorsports patriarch Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta, a drag racing icon, will also be celebrating his milestone 70th birthday at the place where he is most widely known and comfortable – the race track.

“My dad has been involved in this sport for almost half of a century.” Scott, who celebrated his 46th birthday Monday, Feb. 18, and resides in Palmetto, Fla., said. “That is an impressive feat in any form of sports. I’m extremely proud of my dad and all of his accomplishments, both in drag racing and as a businessman. He truly is one of a kind, and it would be incredible for me and for him if we could get our DHL car into the winner’s circle this weekend.”

Scott 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, but got his first professional NHRA national event win under the carbon fiber canopy of a Funny Car in Houston in 1989.

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.