CHANDLER, Ariz., (Feb. 24, 2013) - Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, at the annual running of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., just a few miles from the Phoenix city limits.
Worsham qualified the sleek yellow and black DHL “flopper” in the No. 9 (4.126 seconds, 302.96 mph) spot for the class’s eliminations. He raced against No. 8 qualifier Tim Wilkerson in the opening round. Both 10,000-horsepower race cars struggled, but Worsham’s early loss of traction proved to be his downfall, 5.295 sec., 165.07 mph to 4.252 sec., 245.94 mph.
“Our DHL car was pretty quick and consistent in qualifying just like it was in Pomona (Calif., previous event),” Worsham, a 43-year old resident of Chino Hills, Calif., said. “Conditions this morning were unlike any we had seen all weekend and it just threw us a curve, and we missed. We feel great about our DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, though. We’ll be good in Gainesville (Fla., next event).”
Worsham leaves the desert in 12th place in Mello Yello championship points, only 12 back from the top ten.
Worsham began his racing career at Pomona in the fall of 1990, and has gone on to secure 33 career wins, including 25 in the Funny Car class. After clinching the 2011 Top Fuel NHRA World Championship, the popular Worsham retired from driving and took to leading the crew of fellow Kalitta Motorsports driver Alexis DeJoria. After one season out of the driver’s seat, he returned this season as the driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports.
Team leader and legendary NHRA figure Connie Kalitta celebrated his 75th birthday on race day this Sunday in Phoenix.
From: Todd Myers
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Worsham qualified the sleek yellow and black DHL “flopper” in the No. 9 (4.126 seconds, 302.96 mph) spot for the class’s eliminations. He raced against No. 8 qualifier Tim Wilkerson in the opening round. Both 10,000-horsepower race cars struggled, but Worsham’s early loss of traction proved to be his downfall, 5.295 sec., 165.07 mph to 4.252 sec., 245.94 mph.
“Our DHL car was pretty quick and consistent in qualifying just like it was in Pomona (Calif., previous event),” Worsham, a 43-year old resident of Chino Hills, Calif., said. “Conditions this morning were unlike any we had seen all weekend and it just threw us a curve, and we missed. We feel great about our DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, though. We’ll be good in Gainesville (Fla., next event).”
Worsham leaves the desert in 12th place in Mello Yello championship points, only 12 back from the top ten.
Worsham began his racing career at Pomona in the fall of 1990, and has gone on to secure 33 career wins, including 25 in the Funny Car class. After clinching the 2011 Top Fuel NHRA World Championship, the popular Worsham retired from driving and took to leading the crew of fellow Kalitta Motorsports driver Alexis DeJoria. After one season out of the driver’s seat, he returned this season as the driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports.
Team leader and legendary NHRA figure Connie Kalitta celebrated his 75th birthday on race day this Sunday in Phoenix.
From: Todd Myers
More...
