Doug won the Topeka Top Fuel title trophy in 2006. His late cousin, Scott Kalitta, dominated the Top Fuel class at HPT in the mid 1990s by visiting the winner's circle in the Heartland a Top Fuel record six times.

"My cousin owned Topeka for a few years," Doug, a 44-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. "Scott was almost unbeatable at Heartland Park during that time. I think about Scott every day and I still miss him very much. I'm sure he will be on my mind a lot this weekend, but in a very encouraging way."

Scott Kalitta, a two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion (1994-95), died last June as the result of injuries he suffered in a high-speed Funny Car racing accident in New Jersey. He was 46.

With thoughts of his cousin fueling his desire to win more than usual this weekend, Doug is also optimistic about garnering his 2nd Top Fuel title at HPT because of a test session he and his team participated in after the previous event in Bristol, Tenn., where Doug and the No. 50 team reached the final round.

"We recently did some testing with our No. 50 dragster and we're very encouraged with the performances we saw. We ran some really good times on a hot race track, so we're confident heading into this weekend since the forecast is for some of the hottest temperatures we've seen so far this season. Our dragster ran great in Bristol and then in testing, so we're anxious to get back on the track."

In 2009, Kalitta Motorsports is celebrating 50 years of drag racing by team owner and drag racing legend Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta, Scott's father and Doug's uncle. 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.

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

Courtesy of Todd Myers