Team Kalitta looks to build on recent racing success in Seattle
KENT, Wash., (July 16, 2009) -- Team Kalitta drivers Doug Kalitta and
Jeff Arend are hoping to maintain their nitro-powered momentum this
weekend, July 17-19, at the annual running of the NHRA Northwest
Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., just a few miles from
downtown Seattle.
Kalitta, driver of the No. 50 Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster,
scored a runner-up finish at the previous event in Denver last weekend,
his third final round showing of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series, after qualifying his 8,000-horsepower dragster in a season-high
No. 6 starting spot for eliminations.
"We had a great weekend in Denver, now we have to keep it going,"
Kalitta, a 12-year NHRA veteran and 44-year old resident of Ann Arbor,
Mich., said. "Our dragster obviously responded the way we wanted to
after the changes we made before Denver, so we're pretty happy right
now. We'll try to seal the deal with a win this weekend in
Seattle."
Kalitta was a runner-up finisher in Seattle in 2003 and 2000.
Kalitta's trip to the winner's circle at the season-opening
Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., in February was his first victory
since the fall of 2007. He has 31 career Top Fuel wins in 57 final-round
appearances.
Arend, driver of the bright yellow DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, also
posted a season-best qualifying effort in Denver, No. 9, and he hopes
that he and his DHL team can continue to climb the performance ladder
with a more consistent race car.
"Our DHL Toyota is getting more fun to drive with every event that
goes by," Arend, a 46-year old resident of San Dimas, Calif., said.
"We've made some huge strides this year so far with the
consistency and performance of our Funny Car. Our entire is working well
together and gaining confidence in our car and ourselves. It's an
exciting time on our DHL team right now, but it's going to be really
exciting when we start clicking off some wins soon."
-credit: km
