FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Event 1 of 24
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 7-10, 2008

Media Contact: Todd Myers
tmyers@kalittaracing.com


Scott Kalitta, DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car – No. 4 qualifier, advanced to round one

Scott Kalitta and the DHL team take a disappointing early exit in Pomona

POMONA, Calif., (Feb. 10, 2008) – Sunday at the season-opening event of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series, the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.), Scott Kalitta, driver of the bright yellow and red DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, had a great deal of confidence going into final eliminations, but the tricky track in Pomona dashed his hopes of winning his second Winternationals title trophy.

After qualifying with a stellar 4.818-second, 322.65-mph lap down the quarter-mile to land him in the No. 4 spot on the eliminations ladder, Scott and the DHL team looked set to deliver round wins, but with the sun beating down on the race track in the opening round, the DHL flopper experienced traction problems against No. 13 qualifier Gary Scelzi. Scelzi was then able to get the upset win, 10.639 sec., 78.11 mph to 4.911 sec., 317.94 mph.

Kalitta won the Winternationals in a Top Fuel dragster in 2005.

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 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals was the 1st 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, and Toyota.