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CHANDLER, Ariz. - Dave Grubnic, Zantrex-3 Top Fuel dragster, lost in round one. Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, lost in round one. Scott Kalitta, Kalitta Air Toyota Solara Funny Car, lost in round one.
Sunday's final eliminations at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Int'l Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix, was certainly a day that the drivers and teams that make up the contingent of Kalitta Motorsports would like to soon forget, but as with all things in life, there are leasons to be learned in both successes and disappointments.
Team owner Connie Kalitta, who celebrated his 69th birthday Saturday, summed up the team's day at the drag races like this, "That's what makes our sport so exciting. You win or go home. Sometimes that will jump up and bite you like it did to us here. So, we'll go home and get ready for the next race in Gainesville."
Team Kalitta Top Fuel pilot and native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the Zantrex-3 dragster and the No. 15 qualifier, was defeated in round one of Sunday's final eliminations by Rod Fuller, 9.553 seconds, 79.98 mph to 4.466 sec., 329.91 mph, after the big rear tires on his 8,000-horsepower dragster began slipping and smoking as the car traversed the quarter-mile. His Top Fuel teammate Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools dragster and the No. 13 qualifier, suffered the same demise as his comrade when he was also second to the finish line in his race with Brandon Bernstein, 4.595 sec., 326.63 mph to 4.457 sec., 329.67 mph.
Grubnic leaves the desert in Phoenix in seventh place in POWERade points. Doug will make his exit from the arid air in eighth place in points.
Doug's cousin Scott Kalitta, driver of the Kalitta Air Toyota Solara Funny Car, was the No. 15 qualifier for the Funny Car class. His Sunday ended just before noon local time when his fuel flopper lost traction before half track to let his opponent Tony Pedregon get the win light, 7.767 sec., 106.51 mph to 4.701 sec., 326.71 mph.
Hillary Will, driver of the Kalitta Motorsports-managed, Ken Black-owned KB Racing LLC Top Fuel dragster, was defeated in round one by Whit Bazemore.
The Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals was the 2nd of 23 national events in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals will be the next opportunity for Team Kalitta to return to their winning ways in Gainesville, Fla., March 15-18.
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 Kalitta Air 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 Zantrex-3 Top Fuel dragster, while Hillary Will drives the Kalitta Motorsports-managed and Ken Black-owned Top Fuel dragster.
Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Rahn Tobler (Mac Tools dragster), Jim Oberhofer (Hillary Will-driven dragster), Jon Oberhofer (Zantrex-3 dragster). Connie serves as crew chief on the Kalitta Air Funny Car with assistance from co-crew chief Glenn Mikres.
Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports' race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, and Fischer Honda.
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports, please visit Kalitta Motorsports.
Team Kalitta Looks Forward to Gainesville after Struggling in Phoenix
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Dave Grubnic, Zantrex-3 Top Fuel dragster, lost in round one. Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, lost in round one. Scott Kalitta, Kalitta Air Toyota Solara Funny Car, lost in round one.
Sunday's final eliminations at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Int'l Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix, was certainly a day that the drivers and teams that make up the contingent of Kalitta Motorsports would like to soon forget, but as with all things in life, there are leasons to be learned in both successes and disappointments.
Team owner Connie Kalitta, who celebrated his 69th birthday Saturday, summed up the team's day at the drag races like this, "That's what makes our sport so exciting. You win or go home. Sometimes that will jump up and bite you like it did to us here. So, we'll go home and get ready for the next race in Gainesville."
Team Kalitta Top Fuel pilot and native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the Zantrex-3 dragster and the No. 15 qualifier, was defeated in round one of Sunday's final eliminations by Rod Fuller, 9.553 seconds, 79.98 mph to 4.466 sec., 329.91 mph, after the big rear tires on his 8,000-horsepower dragster began slipping and smoking as the car traversed the quarter-mile. His Top Fuel teammate Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools dragster and the No. 13 qualifier, suffered the same demise as his comrade when he was also second to the finish line in his race with Brandon Bernstein, 4.595 sec., 326.63 mph to 4.457 sec., 329.67 mph.
Grubnic leaves the desert in Phoenix in seventh place in POWERade points. Doug will make his exit from the arid air in eighth place in points.
Doug's cousin Scott Kalitta, driver of the Kalitta Air Toyota Solara Funny Car, was the No. 15 qualifier for the Funny Car class. His Sunday ended just before noon local time when his fuel flopper lost traction before half track to let his opponent Tony Pedregon get the win light, 7.767 sec., 106.51 mph to 4.701 sec., 326.71 mph.
Hillary Will, driver of the Kalitta Motorsports-managed, Ken Black-owned KB Racing LLC Top Fuel dragster, was defeated in round one by Whit Bazemore.
The Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals was the 2nd of 23 national events in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals will be the next opportunity for Team Kalitta to return to their winning ways in Gainesville, Fla., March 15-18.
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 Kalitta Air 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 Zantrex-3 Top Fuel dragster, while Hillary Will drives the Kalitta Motorsports-managed and Ken Black-owned Top Fuel dragster.
Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Rahn Tobler (Mac Tools dragster), Jim Oberhofer (Hillary Will-driven dragster), Jon Oberhofer (Zantrex-3 dragster). Connie serves as crew chief on the Kalitta Air Funny Car with assistance from co-crew chief Glenn Mikres.
Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports' race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, and Fischer Honda.
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports, please visit Kalitta Motorsports.
