KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Event 1 of 22
Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 24-27, 2011
POMONA, Calif., (Feb. 22, 2011) – To say that Jeff Arend, driver of the 8,000-horsepower, 300+ mph DHL Funny Car, is eager to get the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series started, is a huge understatement. Arend and the rest of the professional drag racers of the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) will get their chance at the track soon as the racing season gets underway this weekend, Feb. 24-27, with the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, Calif.
Arend, a 48-year old resident of nearby San Dimas, Calif., is beginning is third full season at the helm of the DHL Funny Car, and he’s hoping that he and the DHL team can build on the momentum of ending last season on a strong performance note including a final-round showing at the final event of 2010 at the same drag strip in Pomona.
“I can’t wait to get back out there,” Arend, a two-time NHRA Funny Car national event winner and 17-year veteran, said. “Our DHL hot rod really started running well towards the end of last year and we had a good testing outing last month, so everyone on our team is anxious to get back into competition and see what we can do. I think I’m more excited about this season and our potential with the DHL Funny Car than I have ever been. It’s going to be a fun year.
“I always love racing in Pomona. It’s like racing in my backyard. A lot of my family and friends get to come out to the track and hang out and that just makes it even better.”
Arend took over the controls of the DHL Funny Car in late 2008 after the tragic death of Scott Kalitta in a racing accident in June of that year in New Jersey. Kalitta was a two-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion and the 2005 Winternationals Champion in Top Fuel.
Event Schedule
The Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals begin Thursday for the nitro-fueled classes with one qualifying session at 1:30 p.m. (PT). Another qualifying session takes place at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Two more qualifying attempts will take place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars in each pro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Times and dates subject to change.
TV Schedule
2/26/2011 Qualifying – 11:00 PM-1:00 AM (ET) ESPN2
2/27/2011 Eliminations – 7:00 PM-10:00 PM (ET) ESPN2
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. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
Jeff Arend drives the DHL Funny Car for the team. Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, drives the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster entry while Dave Grubnic drives the team’s second Top Fueler under the banner of Kalitta Air as well. Connie serves as head tuner for all 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. Connie serves as crew chief on the Grubnic-driven racer with help from assistant crew chief James Riola.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Candlewood Suites, ROCKY Boots, Red Line Oil, Technicoat Companies, OPTIMA Batteries, JEGS, and Mac Tools.
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit www.teamkalitta.com . Follow Us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta . Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KalittaMotorsports . Check out videos about Team Kalitta on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta