On the softball field. The guys and girls at Kalitta Motorsports are staying loose before the final race of the NHRA season. The DHL Toyota Camry driven by Del Worsham holds a 38 point lead over the Don Schumacher Racing Infinite Hero Dodge Charger driven by Jack Beckman. Check out the release below and the stare-down pic by Gary Nastase, and if you’re in the area, go to the game.
Team Kalitta to settle longtime Top Fuel vs Funny Car battle
YPSILANTI, MI – For years, NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series driv-ers, crew members and fans have argued over what is the best nitro class: Top Fuel or Funny Car. Team Kalitta looks to settle the long-running argument through the Inaugural Kalitta Softball Classic on Thursday, November 12 at Big League Dreams in West Covina, Calif.
Fans are encouraged to come and pack the stands. Playing to our own heritage, Team Kalitta will play on the replica Detroit Tigers field with the game running from 5-7pm. There is a three dollar charge to enter the facility.
Leading the charge are two well-respected men each representing their own class.
Jim Oberhofer, a 30-year veteran of Kalitta Motorsports, has risen from crew member to the Vice President of Operations role. His passion continues to lie with Top Fuel racing as he has led Doug Kalitta to five victories and 13 final round appearances in the last two seasons. The crew chief on the Mac Tools dragster will be the captain of the Top Fuel team which will include J.R. Todd and members of the Mac Tools crew and Todd’s team, which has been sponsored this season by Optima Batteries, Red Line Oil and SealMaster.
Tommy DeLago will be his fiercest rival as the leader of the Funny Car charge. DeLago, the 2011 Funny Car Champion crew chief, was the first person to tune a driver to a sub 4.0 second run. His team will consist of the current Funny Car points leader, Del Worsham, and DeLago’s driver, Alexis DeJoria, and members of the DHL and Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio crews.
“Team Kalitta has had a record-breaking season, and I could not think of a better way to end this effort then letting our outstanding employees have a great time playing America’s favorite pas-time. It is going to be a great way to end this outstanding year,” said Oberhofer.
Fans and family that cannot attend can follow along on Team Kalitta’s Instagram, Periscope and Twitter social media channels and show their support of either team by using the hashtags: #KalittaSoftballTF or #KalittaSoftballFC. Followers will be able to vote on polls, cheer on the teams and see live action.
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 100 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 Optima Batteries 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 Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Optima Batteries, Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports:
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit #KalittaStrong online
Website: www.teamkalitta.com
