Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com

Sun, 8 Jun 2008, 11:34 PM

Hillary Will Races to Quarterfinals in Joliet

Courtesy of Todd Myers

JOLIET, Ill. -- Hillary Will, the world's fastest female and driver of the 8,000-horsepower KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster, posted a quarter-final finish Sunday at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., just a few miles south of the Chicago city limits.

Will, the No. 8 qualifier, posted the quickest elapsed time of the opening round of today's eliminations when she defeated Cory McClenathan, 4.539 sec., 314.17 mph to 4.590 sec., 321.04 mph. In the quarterfinals, Will rolled to the starting line to face the Alan Johnson-tuned Top Fueler. In another great side-by-side race, Will and her KB Racing, LLC rail made a valiant effort to go to the semifinals, but they were turned back, 4.599 sec., 325.14 mph to 4.565 sec., 326.56 mph.

"We're certainly happy to make the quarterfinals, but, obviously, we were hoping for more," Will, a 28-year old native of Fortuna, Calif., "We came into Joliet fourth in (POWERade championship) points, and we're leaving Joliet in the same spot, so that's great. Our KB Racing, LLC dragster has been so consistent all season long, and we were right there again today. We'll go to Englishtown (N.J., next event) and just keep trying to go rounds."

Will picked up an historic first NHRA national event win at the previous event in Topeka, Kan., last Sunday to become only the 11th female to win an NHRA event title and only the 7th woman to do so in the NHRA's quickest and fastest class - Top Fuel.

At the first two events of this season's 24-event NHRA national event schedule, Will set the track record for speed, for either gender, at both of the quarter-miles at Phoenix Int'l Raceway (334.32 mph) and at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.) (334.56 mph). Will's speedy blast in California established her as the fastest woman ever in drag racing. She and the KB Racing, LLC team were also the fastest of the racing weekend (tie) at the third event in Gainesville, Fla., with a 330.63-mph lap. They were again the fastest team of the fifth event in Las Vegas, 331.85 mph.

A former standout in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Will moved up to the quickest and fastest NHRA professional class, Top Fuel, in 2006 behind the wheel of a newly formed team owned by Las Vegas businessman Ken Black and managed by Kalitta Motorsports, the multi-car team founded and owned by drag racing icon Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta. She won her first Top Fuel event trophy in Norwalk (IHRA) in her rookie season and made her first NHRA final-round appearance in Memphis later that year. She finished the season in 10th place in Top Fuel championship points in '06. Will picked up an emotional first NHRA national event title in Topeka, Kan., June 1, 2008.

The Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals was the 10th of 24 national events in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

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 DHL Toyota Solara 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 DHL Top Fuel dragster, while Hillary Will drives the Ken Black-owned and Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster.

Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer (KB Racing, LLC dragster), Jon Oberhofer (Mac Tools dragster co-crew chief), and Richard Hogan (Mac Tools dragster co-crew chief). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car with assistance from co-crew chief Glenn Mikres and as the crew chief on the DHL dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola.

Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports' race cars include Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.

About KB Racing, LLC

KB Racing, LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. In the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, KB Racing, LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock entries, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line, and a Top Fuel dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports and driven by Hillary Will.