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, DHL Funny Car – No. 14 qualifier, advanced to round two


Scott Kalitta and the DHL team improve in Phoenix

PHOENIX, Ariz., (Feb. 25, 2008) – Yesterday during final eliminations 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., Scott Kalitta, driver of the bright yellow and red, nitro-fueled DHL Funny Car, and his team continued to improve upon their race car’s performance and advanced one round further than they did at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., two weeks ago.

Kalitta, the No. 14 qualifier (4.874 seconds, 321.50 mph), raced No. 3 qualifier and 14-time Funny Car POWERade points champion John Force in round one. Kalitta had faced Force ten times before in final eliminations with “the Champ” having won every round, but this time Kalitta and the DHL car delivered an upset victory with their best lap of the weekend in Phoenix, 4.782 sec., 325.06 mph to 4.860 sec., 305.29 mph.

In the quarterfinals, Kalitta rolled to the starting line to face Jim Head. Soon after the cars started their charges for the finish line, both of the high-powered machines began experiencing traction problems. Both drivers battled to get their cars to recover time and time again, but it was Head that was able to wrangle his car into submission more quickly to keep Kalitta from getting another round win, 10.929 sec., 84.53 mph to 7.245 sec., 243.63 mph.

Scott is now in 6th place in 2008 POWERade championship points.

Kalitta is the son of team owner and drag racing legend Conrad “Connie” 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, 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 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.