YPSILANTI, Mich. (Feb. 17, 2026) — Two iconic brands that partner on multiple levels in multiple businesses, DHL and Kalitta Motorsports, signed a multi-year contract extension for J.R. Todd’s DHL GR Supra Funny Car, the team announced today. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 6-8 at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
What started some two decades ago as an agreement to sponsor race cars is now a multi-faceted relationship that enjoys success on and off the racetrack including charitable efforts, business-to-business networking and track-side experiences for DHL customers.
In addition to winning NHRA Funny Car championships with Todd (2018) and Del Worsham (2015), DHL and Team Kalitta partner in the fight against food insecurity. Through “The Race to End Hunger,” DHL, Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air combine forces each season to raise funds equivalent to at least one million meals through Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States.
“For more than 20 years, Kalitta has been a trusted partner, united by a shared commitment to excellence on the racetrack and making a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe and Head of Global Partnerships. “Together, we’ve brought fans and employees closer to the sport while strengthening both our business and community initiatives. This multi-year extension reflects how naturally our brands align, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
As the global leader in international logistics and express shipping services, DHL enjoys a decades-long partnership with Kalitta Air, which transports DHL customers’ shipments around the globe. Its relationship with Kalitta Air led DHL to Kalitta Motorsports in a business-to-business development which can encompass all Kalitta Motorsports corporate partners. Each year, Kalitta Motorsports hosts a business-to-business summit among all its partners in hopes of fostering additional business relationships among the attendees.
“DHL is just a phenomenal partner,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “They are partners in the true sense of the word; the DHL-Kalitta relationship is so much more than a logo on the side of a race car. We collaborate on many levels from entertaining their customers at the racetrack, growing both companies through our business-to-business efforts, our drivers visiting their hubs around the country, or working with Kalitta Air or fighting hunger each fall, DHL is always there, working with us side-by-side. We are proud to consider our friends at DHL part of the Team Kalitta family.”
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.
Kalitta Motorsports is a three-car team competing in the 20-race NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Founded by team owner Conrad “Connie” Kalitta in 1959, Kalitta Motorsports fields two Top Fuel dragsters driven by two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta and 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon as well as a Funny Car driven by 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd. Located in Ypsilanti, Mich., the team owns six World Championships and more than 100 national event wins through multiple sanctioning bodies. For additional information, please visit www.teamkalitta.com and follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @TeamKalitta.
The post DHL, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS SIGN MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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What started some two decades ago as an agreement to sponsor race cars is now a multi-faceted relationship that enjoys success on and off the racetrack including charitable efforts, business-to-business networking and track-side experiences for DHL customers.
In addition to winning NHRA Funny Car championships with Todd (2018) and Del Worsham (2015), DHL and Team Kalitta partner in the fight against food insecurity. Through “The Race to End Hunger,” DHL, Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air combine forces each season to raise funds equivalent to at least one million meals through Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States.
“For more than 20 years, Kalitta has been a trusted partner, united by a shared commitment to excellence on the racetrack and making a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe and Head of Global Partnerships. “Together, we’ve brought fans and employees closer to the sport while strengthening both our business and community initiatives. This multi-year extension reflects how naturally our brands align, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
As the global leader in international logistics and express shipping services, DHL enjoys a decades-long partnership with Kalitta Air, which transports DHL customers’ shipments around the globe. Its relationship with Kalitta Air led DHL to Kalitta Motorsports in a business-to-business development which can encompass all Kalitta Motorsports corporate partners. Each year, Kalitta Motorsports hosts a business-to-business summit among all its partners in hopes of fostering additional business relationships among the attendees.
“DHL is just a phenomenal partner,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “They are partners in the true sense of the word; the DHL-Kalitta relationship is so much more than a logo on the side of a race car. We collaborate on many levels from entertaining their customers at the racetrack, growing both companies through our business-to-business efforts, our drivers visiting their hubs around the country, or working with Kalitta Air or fighting hunger each fall, DHL is always there, working with us side-by-side. We are proud to consider our friends at DHL part of the Team Kalitta family.”
DHL – The logistics company for the world:
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.
About Kalitta Motorsports:
Kalitta Motorsports is a three-car team competing in the 20-race NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Founded by team owner Conrad “Connie” Kalitta in 1959, Kalitta Motorsports fields two Top Fuel dragsters driven by two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta and 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon as well as a Funny Car driven by 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd. Located in Ypsilanti, Mich., the team owns six World Championships and more than 100 national event wins through multiple sanctioning bodies. For additional information, please visit www.teamkalitta.com and follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @TeamKalitta.
The post DHL, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS SIGN MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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