For the second consecutive event, Kalitta, driver of the Technicoat Top Fuel dragster and the No. 9 qualifier (3.865 sec., 314.75 mph), reached the semi-final round of racing of eliminations in the world's quickest and fastest auto racing class. He defeated Shawn Langdon in the opening round and Larry Dixon in the quarterfinals. Kalitta's 3.839-second lap in the opener was his quickest pass of the event.

In the semifinals, Kalitta paired up with Antron Brown. The two venerable drivers gave the crowd at VMP a terrific side-by-side race to the 1,000-ft. finish line, but Brown was able to edge Kalitta at the stripe to get the win, 3.886 sec., 310.70 mph to 3.846 sec., 318.47 mph.

Kalitta won the season-opening NHRA national event in Pomona, Calif., in February. He won the Top Fuel title trophy in Richmond in 2007.

Kalitta, a 45-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., 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.

Jeff Arend, driver of the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car for Team Kalitta, stretched his streak of round-wins to five after an upset win over Ashley Force Hood in the opening round of Funny Car eliminations. Arend, the No. 11 qualifier (4.106 sec., 302.41 mph), defeated Force Hood (No. 6 qualifier: 4.066 sec., 311.27 mph) in a wild "pedalfest" after both drivers had problems getting their floppers to maintain traction. Both drivers were on and off and back on the throttle, but Arend prevailed, 4.513 sec., 274.44 mph to 5.169 sec., 171.49 mph.

In the Funny Car quarterfinals, Arend matched up with Del Worsham. Arend got a very slight starting line advantage (.082 sec. to .087 sec.), but the race was over soon after that. Arend's mount had mechanical problems as the burst panels burst in the manifold of the nitro-fueled engine of the DHL machine setting off the safety system that disabled the race car (11.836 sec., 35.51 mph to 4.123 sec., 305.42 mph).

Arend got an emotional win for Team Kalitta at the previous event in Memphis one week ago, his first win with the team since joining Kalitta Motorsports in August of last season.

Arend, a native Canadian, has two NHRA career Funny Car victories (Reading, Pa., 1996). He is married to Windy, and they have a daughter, Jenna, 9.

ESPN2 TV Schedule
10/11/2009 - Eliminations - 7:00:00 PM - 10:00:00 PM ET
10/15/2009 - Repeat Eliminations - 2:00:00 AM - 4:00:00 AM ET

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

Courtesy of Todd Myers