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As a rookie Top Fuel driver, Hillary Will, who drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster, continues her learning curve this weekend at the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals on yet another track - Maple Grove Raceway, near Reading Penn. - that she has not tested or competed on in her career.
"I have never been to this track before," said Will. "The race at Maple Grove Raceway will mark the thirteenth time this year that I have entered a race having never competed at that facility.
"I am really looking forward to the Reading race. Our KB Racing team has been building momentum lately and I feel we are a win waiting to happen."
The momentum that Will noted has come in the form of a runner-up position at the NHRA race in Memphis, Tenn., and a win during an IHRA event in late September at Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park, which will join the NHRA next season.
Also, Jim Oberhofer and his crew have Will's KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster running very consistent of late and consistency is a main ingredient in winning races in the NHRA professional classes.
Entering the 22nd running of the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals, Will holds the ninth position in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings. With five races remaining on the 2006 schedule, the 26-year-old driver, who now calls Ypsilanti, Mich., home, can move up in the point standings with a good showing at Maple Grove Raceway. She is only 28 points out of eighth spot and 134 points behind seventh.
Qualifying for Will and her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster begins with two nitro sessions on Friday, Sept. 15, scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m. and concludes with two additional nitro sessions on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 12 noon and 3 p.m. Will begins her quest for the Toyo Tires Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, Sept. 17, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Reading time (ET) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the 22nd annual NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (Sept. 16) from 4 to 6 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m., Sunday (Sept. 17). The elimination show repeats early Thursday morning (Sept. 21) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, Sept. 17, from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and the Technicoat Companies are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category.
Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006.
Will hopes Maple Grove Raceway Produces Win
As a rookie Top Fuel driver, Hillary Will, who drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster, continues her learning curve this weekend at the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals on yet another track - Maple Grove Raceway, near Reading Penn. - that she has not tested or competed on in her career.
"I have never been to this track before," said Will. "The race at Maple Grove Raceway will mark the thirteenth time this year that I have entered a race having never competed at that facility.
"I am really looking forward to the Reading race. Our KB Racing team has been building momentum lately and I feel we are a win waiting to happen."
The momentum that Will noted has come in the form of a runner-up position at the NHRA race in Memphis, Tenn., and a win during an IHRA event in late September at Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park, which will join the NHRA next season.
Also, Jim Oberhofer and his crew have Will's KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster running very consistent of late and consistency is a main ingredient in winning races in the NHRA professional classes.
Entering the 22nd running of the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals, Will holds the ninth position in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings. With five races remaining on the 2006 schedule, the 26-year-old driver, who now calls Ypsilanti, Mich., home, can move up in the point standings with a good showing at Maple Grove Raceway. She is only 28 points out of eighth spot and 134 points behind seventh.
Qualifying for Will and her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster begins with two nitro sessions on Friday, Sept. 15, scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m. and concludes with two additional nitro sessions on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 12 noon and 3 p.m. Will begins her quest for the Toyo Tires Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, Sept. 17, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Reading time (ET) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the 22nd annual NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (Sept. 16) from 4 to 6 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m., Sunday (Sept. 17). The elimination show repeats early Thursday morning (Sept. 21) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, Sept. 17, from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and the Technicoat Companies are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category.
Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006.
