ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., (June 1, 2011) – Jeff Arend, driver of the 8,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled DHL Funny Car, and his DHL team have one clear and collective goal this weekend, June 3-5 – Win the annual running of the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
“Right now, we are as determined and focused as you can possibly get,” Arend, a 48-year old resident of San Dimas, Calif., said. “The weather looks great for racing this weekend. We know there’s going to be some good numbers put up on the board and we want to be at the top of that list after every lap.
“Our DHL hot rod is one of the best on the planet and we’re eager to show that this weekend. We’ll be thinking a lot about Scott [Kalitta] this weekend, as I’m sure a lot of other teams and fans will be. We are going to do everything in our power to put his race car in the Winner’s Circle at Englishtown. Scott’s name is still on the DHL Funny Car and it always will be.”
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 Englishtown.
Arend is currently in sixth place in Full Throttle Funny Car championship points, 209 points away from the lead. He and the DHL team have one win this season (Houston).
Arend was a quarterfinalist at last year’s event in Englishtown.
Event Schedule
The NHRA SuperNationals begin Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and 7:00 p.m. Two more qualifying attempts will take place on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. and 3:15 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
6/4/2011 Qualifying – 5:30 PM-7:00 PM (ET) ESPN2
6/5/2011 Eliminations – 4:30 PM-7:00 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