KB RACING LLC: Hillary Will qualifies in the 12th spot
KB RACING LLC-owned, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS-managed TOP FUEL DRAGSTER HILLARY WILL (www.hillarywillrace.com) -- DRIVER JIM OBERHOFER (Jim O.) - CREW CHIEF Qualifying: Session 1 Friday: 4.565 seconds at 288.77 mph (#7) Session 2 Friday: 12.584 seconds at 81.57 mph (#10) Session 3 Saturday: 11.212 seconds at 81.24 mph (#11) Session 4 Saturday: 4.602 seconds at 325.22 mph (#12) Hillary Will qualifies in the 12th spot Faces Brandon Bernstein in opening round CHANDLER, Ariz. (February 25, 2006) - The Phoenix area has not seen rain for over four months, so the skies were clear and blue and the temperatures were warm - a perfect scenario for qualifying at this weekend's 22nd running of the NHRA Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals. After four qualifying sessions, Hillary Will qualified the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta-managed Top Fuel dragster in the No. 12 position on the final qualifying ladder. For Will qualifying had its peaks and valleys. Her first qualifying run was her best when she crossed the Firebird International Raceway finish line in 4.565 seconds at 288.77 mph. That run was followed by two tire-smoking aborted passes, one each on Friday night and Saturday. The team then rebounded, running an elapsed time of 4.602 seconds at over 325 mph in the heat of Saturday afternoon -- conditions that should be much like tomorrow's. "We had hoped for more consistent passes over the four qualifying sessions," said Will. "That final run today was a confidence builder. I talked with (crew chief) Jim O. (Oberhofer) and he indicated that should give us a good base for tomorrow's eliminations. He feels that we can build on that run. I always have confidence in my car when I pull to the line because of the work that my team does." In tomorrow's opening round Will is matched against Brandon Bernstein who qualified third with a qualifying pass of 4.516 seconds at 328.94 mph. In only her second race of her rookie year, Will and Bernstein have never met in competition. Will begins her quest for the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Phoenix time (MST) and subject to change at anytime. Qualifying highlights for the 22nd annual NHRA Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (Feb. 25) from 8-10 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 26). The elimination show repeats early Tuesday morning (Feb. 28) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday evening, Feb. 26 from 6:30 -7 p.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and Technicoat are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006.