This weekend, May 29-31, Arend will compete in his 100th NHRA Funny Car event as part of the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at famed Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan. Arend is reflective about the lessons he has learned over the past 99 events, and he is excited and optimistic about his straight-line career at this point and forward.

"Probably the best thing I've learned over the years is to try very hard not to burn any bridges," Arend, a 46-year old resident of San Dimas, Calif., said. "NHRA drag racing is an awfully small community, and I've tried my best not to burn any and to build on the good relationships to make them stronger.

"As far as regrets go, I really don't think I would change too much. Winning very early in my career has kept me pretty grounded and probably kept me from going broke. And, if I had changed anything, I wouldn't be where I am today with Kalitta Motorsports, which is truly a dream come true for me to race for Connie Kalitta and his team.

"We recently did some testing with our DHL race car and I think everyone on this team is more optimistic than ever before that we are going to pick up our first win together very soon. Our car continues to improve with consistency and performance at each event. To be able to get a win this weekend would also be extra special to continue the legacy of Scott Kalitta's dominance at HPT. In the mid-90's, Scott and his Top Fuel team were almost unstoppable in Topeka, so I think it would be really fitting for us to get our first win for Scott on Sunday."

Arend joined Kalitta Motorsports in August of last year to assume the driving duties of the DHL entry after the tragic death of Kalitta, a six-time Topeka winner, as the result of injuries he suffered in a racing accident last June. Arend has one NHRA Funny Car national event win to his credit - Reading, Pa., 1996. He is married to Windy, and they have a daughter, Jenna, 9.

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.

The O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 4:30 p.m. (CT) and 7:00 p.m. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. The top sixteen qualified cars in each pro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.

All times and dates subject to change.

The O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals is the 9th of 24 national events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

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. The racing operation was started in 1959 by legendary drag racer and team owner Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta. Jeff Arend drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car for the team while Connie's nephew, Doug Kalitta, drives the 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.

Courtesy of Todd Myers