ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., (June 1, 2011) – Native Australian David Grubnic, driver of the 8,000-horsepower, nitro-fueled Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster, knows that NHRA drag racing can be a fickle sport sometimes, but he’s hoping that he and his team will be able to get the “bugs” out this weekend, June 3-5, at the annual running of the NHRA SuperNationals at famed Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
At the previous two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Atlanta and Topeka, Kan., Grubnic and the Kalitta Air team have experienced highly unusual and frustrating glitches in the complex systems that make up their 300+ mph race car.
“We’ve had some bad luck at the last two events,” Grubnic, a 48-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Unfortunately we’ve been defeated in the opening rounds at each. Our problems in qualifying, especially in Topeka, put us way behind and it was just too big of a mountain to climb.
“We had a really unfortunate and unique problem with our fuel system, but we’ve got everything back to where it should be, and we’re ready to go some rounds this weekend in Englishtown. I would love to be able to take Connie’s (Kalitta, team owner, crew chief and drag racing legend) car to the Winner’s Circle this weekend.”
Kalitta’s only son, Scott Kalitta, was tragically killed in a racing accident while competing in Funny Car qualifying at the 2008 Englishtown event.
Grubnic was defeated by his Kalitta Air teammate, Doug Kalitta, in the opening round of final eliminations 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