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SOMONA, Calif.(July 29) -- Saving her best qualifying run until last, a 4.597-second pass, Hillary Will, driver of the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel Dragster, qualified No. 7 on the final qualifying ladder for the 19th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals this weekend.
After having her car coast to the finish line in the opening session of qualifying, Will covered the Infineon Raceway quarter-mile in 4.626 seconds at 320.81 mph, good for the No. 7 position at the end of Friday's second session.
She continued to show improvement on Saturday, running an elapsed time of 4.604 seconds in Saturday's first session and improving that number by running a 4.597-second pass in the final session.
"We showed improvement session by session during qualifying," said the 26-year-old Will. "If we can continue that trend through four rounds of eliminations tomorrow, we'll be happy."
Tomorrow's first round opponent for Will is Melanie Troxel. Troxel's best pass of her four qualifying runs was a 4.608 seconds pass, good for 10th position.
Will begins her quest for the FRAM Autolite Nationals Top Fuel title on Sunday, July 30, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 12 noon. Prior to the start of Sunday's event, Will joins other NHRA/POWERade Drag Racing Series drivers for a fan appreciation autograph session that will take place from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on the Infineon Raceway road course next to the drag strip, in front of the start/finish grandstand. All times are local Sonoma time (PT) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the 19th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (July 29) from 8 to 10 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 8 until 11 p.m. (Sunday, July 30). The elimination show repeats early Monday morning (July 31) from 3-4:30 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, July 30, 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 No. 7 at Infineon Raceway
Faces Melanie Troxel in Opening Round
SOMONA, Calif.(July 29) -- Saving her best qualifying run until last, a 4.597-second pass, Hillary Will, driver of the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel Dragster, qualified No. 7 on the final qualifying ladder for the 19th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals this weekend.
After having her car coast to the finish line in the opening session of qualifying, Will covered the Infineon Raceway quarter-mile in 4.626 seconds at 320.81 mph, good for the No. 7 position at the end of Friday's second session.
She continued to show improvement on Saturday, running an elapsed time of 4.604 seconds in Saturday's first session and improving that number by running a 4.597-second pass in the final session.
"We showed improvement session by session during qualifying," said the 26-year-old Will. "If we can continue that trend through four rounds of eliminations tomorrow, we'll be happy."
Tomorrow's first round opponent for Will is Melanie Troxel. Troxel's best pass of her four qualifying runs was a 4.608 seconds pass, good for 10th position.
Will begins her quest for the FRAM Autolite Nationals Top Fuel title on Sunday, July 30, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 12 noon. Prior to the start of Sunday's event, Will joins other NHRA/POWERade Drag Racing Series drivers for a fan appreciation autograph session that will take place from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on the Infineon Raceway road course next to the drag strip, in front of the start/finish grandstand. All times are local Sonoma time (PT) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the 19th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (July 29) from 8 to 10 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 8 until 11 p.m. (Sunday, July 30). The elimination show repeats early Monday morning (July 31) from 3-4:30 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, July 30, 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.
