GAINESVILLE, Fla., (March 9, 2011) – Native Australian David Grubnic, driver of the 8,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster, is looking for redemption this weekend, Feb. 11-13, at the NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla.
Grubnic’s Kalitta Air team, led by team patriarch and drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta, failed to qualify for eliminations at the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. two weeks ago, but Grubnic is confident that he and his team will post a much better performance this weekend and hopefully revisit the Gatornationals winner’s circle like he did when he won the Top Fuel title trophy in Gainesville in 2006.
“What happened in Pomona was heartbreaking, but you have to move on,” Grubnic, a 48-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “After Connie and the team got back to the race shop in [Ypsilanti] Michigan, they found some problems in the fuel system that was making our car drop cylinders. They got everything fixed so we should be ready to race in Gainesville.
“Winning the Gators in ’06 is one of my fondest memories. It’s one of the oldest tracks we race on, and it’s one race that every driver wants to win because of all of the great history. Hopefully we can take our Kalitta Air dragster there again this year.”
Kalitta also won the famed Gatornationals as a driver in 1994. Kalitta defeated his late son Scott, who died in a racing accident in 2008, in the only ever father vs. son NHRA Top Fuel final round (4.79 seconds to 4.95 sec.).
Event Schedule
The NHRA Gatornationals begin Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 12:45 p.m. (ET) and 3:30 p.m. Two more qualifying attempts will take place on Saturday at 11:45 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
3/13/2011 Qualifying – 12:00 AM-1:30 AM (ET) ESPN2
3/13/2011 Eliminations – 6:00 PM-9:00 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