This weekend, May 15-17, Doug Kalitta, driver of the 8,000-horsepower No.50 Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, returns to the home of three of his 31 career Top Fuel victories in the NHRA’s quickest and fastest racing class when he and his Kalitta Motorsports team “go the grand” at the annual running of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn.
Kalitta’s three title trophies from Bristol (2006, 2005, 2001) make him the winningest professional drag racer on the scenic 1,000-ft. course in East Tennessee.
“It’s been a few years so I think we’re due for another (win),” Kalitta, a 44-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. “Seriously, Bristol is one of our favorite places to race. The track and the facility are top-notch and the scenery is amazing. A win this weekend would be a big boost for our team. Hopefully it’s our turn and we can pick up our fourth Bristol trophy.”
Kalitta, a 12-year NHRA veteran, and his team won the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., in early February. It was Kalitta’s first trip to the winner’s circle since the fall of 2007. Kalitta has finished in the top ten in Full Throttle Top Fuel championship points in every season of his drag racing career. He is currently in 9th place (320) in Full Throttle championship points, 241 points behind the leader.
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.
The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begins Friday for the nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions. Two more qualifying opportunities take place Saturday. The top sixteen qualified cars in each pro class will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at noon.
All times and dates subject to change.
The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is the 8th of 24 national events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
