Thu, 17 Sep 2009, 08:40 PM Red Line Oil Dragster to Make Encore Performance for Kalitta's Charge in Charlotte

Courtesy of Todd Myers

CONCORD, N.C. -- This weekend, Sept. 18-20, at the annual running of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C., just a few miles from downtown Charlotte, NHRA Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta begins his quest for his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series championship.

The event in the Tar Heel State marks the beginning of NHRA's six-event, season-finalizing "playoffs", the Countdown to 1. Kalitta enters the Countdown to 1 in the No. 9 points position. The "regular" season points tally for each driver in the Countdown to 1 has now been deleted and Kalitta goes into this weekend only 100 points away from the Top Fuel championship lead, compared to a difference of 675 points before the Countdown to 1 adjustment.

Kalitta's 8,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled racing machine carried the primary colors of longtime Team Kalitta associate sponsorship partner Red Line Oil at the previous three NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events. The dynamically decorated rail will now "go the grand" for one more event on the 1,000-ft. drag strip at one of drag racing's most celebrated venues.

"The Countdown to 1 gives us an amazing opportunity to make a run for the championship," Kalitta, a 45-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. "Our Red Line Oil dragster is more than capable of finishing the season with a few wins, so we're confident we have a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing.

"The facility in Concord is absolutely second to none. It's the best of the best. It's a great place to kick off the Countdown to 1, and hopefully we'll get a chance to visit its winner's circle Sunday evening and start our run for the championship off right.

"Thanks to Tim Kerrigan, Cameron Evans and everyone at Red Line Oil for staying with us as the primary sponsor for another event. They've been great partners and great friends for many years now."

Also, by making this season's Countdown to 1, Kalitta guarantees himself another top-ten finish in championship points, a fete he has incredibly accomplished in every season of his Top Fuel driving career which began with his Rookie of the Year award-winning season in 1998.

Kalitta has 31 NHRA Top Fuel event victories in his career in 58 final-round appearances. He is married to Josie, and they have a son, Mitchell, 8, and a daughter, Avery, 6.

Event Schedule
The NHRA Carolinas Nationals begin Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday at noon and 3:30 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars in each pro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at noon.

Times and dates subject to change.

The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the 19th of 24 national events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

ESPN2 TV Schedule
9/19 - Qualifying: 11:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. (ET) 9/20 - Eliminations: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
9/24 - Repeat Eliminations: 1:30 a.m. - 3:30 a.m.

Times and dates subject to change.

About Kalitta Motorsports
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. In 2009, Kalitta Motorsports is celebrating 50 years of drag racing by team owner and drag racing legend Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta. Over the past 50 years, Connie, who has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and as an owner, has dedicated unequalled amounts of time and resources to building one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing. Kalitta Motorsports has won five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Jeff Arend drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car for the team while Connie's nephew, Doug Kalitta, drives the No. 50 Top Fuel dragster entry. Connie serves as head tuner for both Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chief Jim Oberhofer and assistant crew chief Troy Fasching on Doug's Top Fueler and by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Funny Car.

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

For more info about Kalitta Motorsports, please visit http://www.teamkalitta.com

Follow Team Kalitta on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kalitta

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