ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – (June 3, 2015) – Kalitta Motorsports drivers look to seal the victory after placing machines in the finals of both nitro classes last season for the Toyota Summernationals at old Bridge Township Raceway.
Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, earned the no.1 qualifying spot last season after running a 3.748 second run. He blew past Clay Millican, Tony Schumacher and Morgan Lucas, before coming up just short in the final to Richie Crampton.
A four-time Englishtown finalist, Kalitta picked a victory in 2000. While starting from the no. 1 spot, he also picked up the Wally in 2003.
Two weeks ago, Kalitta continued his run of success in Topeka. The Mac Tools team braved off-and-on rain conditions throughout the day to earn a semi-final finish and solidify their top five points placement.
“We were close last season,” said Kalitta, “but we really want to pick up the win. Not only for my great sponsor, Mac Tools, but because of all the Kalitta Motorsports history at the track.”
Kalitta is not the only Team Kalitta driver looking to take just one more step into the Englishtown winner’s circle. Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, qualified in the second position with a track record speed of 321.04 mph. On Sunday, Worsham defeated Tim Wilkerson and two former NHRA champions, Tony Pedregon and Robert Hight, before coming up just short in the finals to fellow Toyota Racing driver Cruz Pedregon.
Worsham is coming off the Topeka race where he reset his career best elapsed time twice. In the first round, Worsham faced off against his teammate, Alexis DeJoria. His pass of 3.988 rewrote the record books momentarily, before Jon Oberhofer and Nicky Boninfante tuned Worsham to a even quicker 3.984. He retained his top four points placement; something that he has held after every race this season.
A victory at Englishtown would be his first at this track with Kalitta Motorsports, but he has a long history of success at Old Bridge Township Raceway. His second career victory in 1991 occurred there, along with another win in 2005. He is a six-time finalist; in addition to last season, Worsham advanced to the finals in 1992 and 2010, along with his 2011 Top Fuel championship season.
Fans can meet Del Worsham, along with his funny car teammate Alexis DeJoria, at the Toyota Pit Pass display on Friday and Saturday.
J.R. Todd, driver of the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster, looks to earn his 100th career round win this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway.
Last season, in his first start in Englishtown since 2008, Todd qualified in the top ten and earned a first round victory over Leah Pritchett.
Todd is coming off his best four-race run of the young season, earning yet another no. 1 qualifying position, his fifth in the past fourteen events, which leads the class, and averaged a round win in every event. He has moved from tenth to eighth in the point standings, which is his season high.
“If the conditions are right, we can make some great runs this weekend,” said Todd. “We look to take this Kalitta Air ride to late rounds and keep gaining more points.”
Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, is looking to start this first race of three straight with a rebound performance after two consecutive first round losses.
Last season, DeJoria qualified among the top ten drivers at Old Bridge Raceway Park, and earned a round win over Jeff Arend.
At the one-third point of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season, she sits tied for ninth in the point standings with former champion Cruz Pedregon.
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports:
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- Website: www.teamkalitta.com
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About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
Del Worsham drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Team Kalitta. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, by Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.
