Native Australian Dave Grubnic will return to the world's quickest and fastest form of motorsports,
Top Fuel drag racing, at the wheel of a 300+mph Kalitta Motorsports dragster at the annual running
of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national event in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 14-16, at
Brainerd Int'l Raceway.
Grubnic's 8,000-horspower dragster will serve as a testing vehicle for the team, and will also
participate in the two NHRA events following the event in Minn., Reading, Penn., and Indianapolis.
"Connie (Kalitta, team owner, tuner, and drag racing legend) has some things he wants to try out
and bringing Grubnic's car back out is the best way for him to do that," Jim Oberhofer, Kalitta
Motorsports general manager said. "NHRA limits our testing time, so having another car out there
racing will help us try some new things without compromising the performance of our two full-time
racers (Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster driven by Doug Kalitta and DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car
driven by Jeff Arend)."
Grubnic, 46, previously drove a Top Fueler for Kalitta Motorsports from 2004-2008, but he has been
sidelined so far this season due to budget constraints. He has two NHRA national event wins in 14
final round appearances in his 14-year Top Fuel career. In May, 2005, he became the first racer
born outside of North America to win an NHRA Top Fuel event. He currently resides in Ennis, Mont.
"I'm really excited to get back to driving a race car," Grubnic said. "I've always considered it to
be an honor to drive for Connie and I'm glad I can do it again and help him, even if it is on a
limited basis. I'm sure we'll get some new ideas and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun."
Longtime Kalitta Motorsports race car mechanic James Riola will assist Kalitta as crew chief on
Grubnic's rail ride.
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
