KB Racing LLC: Hillary Will No. 6 at Gainesville
KB RACING LLC NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES KB RACING LLC-owned, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS-managed TOP FUEL DRAGSTER HILLARY WILL (www.hillarywillrace.com) -- DRIVER JIM OBERHOFER (Jim O.) - CREW CHIEF 37th ANNUAL NHRA ACDELCO GATORNATIONALS GAINESVILLE RACEWAY - GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA MARCH 16-19, 2006 QUALIFYING: Thursday, Session 1: 4.646 seconds at 309.38 mph (#2) Friday, session 2: 4.734 seconds at 346.71 mph (#7) Saturday, Session 3: 4.575 seconds at 320.17 mph (#5) Saturday, Session 4: 4.566 seconds at 324.79 (#6) Hillary Will No. 6 at Gainesville GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18, 2006) - Hillary Will placed the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel Dragster No. 6 on the final qualifying ladder at the 37th annual NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals. Will's best of four qualifying runs was a 4.566-second pass at 324.79 mph. On Friday, Will started with a bang and ended with a bang. In the first qualifying session, the rookie driver placed her Jim O-tuned dragster in the No. 2 spot with a pass of 4.646 seconds. In Friday's final session the bang came in the form of a spectacular engine explosion caused by a lifter problem. Will and her team recovered from Friday's engine explosion by tripping the Gainesville Raceway finish lights in 4.575 seconds at 320.17 mph during Saturday's opening session of qualifying, moving Will into fifth on the qualifying ladder at the time. Her fourth and final pass was another consistent run of 4.566 seconds and Will finished in the top half of the field for tomorrow's eliminations. "We've been pretty consistent throughout qualifying," said Will. "The blow up on Friday night was an occurrence that was out of our control and resulted from a failed lifter. I'm pleased that we have such a consistent car and look forward to eliminations tomorrow." In the opening round, Will faces the No. 11 qualifier Bob Vandergriff, Jr. Vandergriff qualified with a pass of 4.627 seconds at 321.54 mph. Will, who made her professional Top Fuel debut at the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals, is now competing in her third race. "I no longer have first race jitters. I'm much more comfortable in the car with each pass I make. Thing seem to be coming together for me," Will reflected. Tomorrow, Will begins her quest for the ACDelco Gatornationals Top Fuel title with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Gainesville time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Qualifying highlights for the 37th annual NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals can be seen on ESPN2 early Sunday morning (March 19) from 12:30-2:30 a.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 5 until 7 p.m. on Sunday (March 19). The elimination show repeats early Wednesday morning (March 22) from 2:30-4:30 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 morning, March 19 from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. 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 the Technicoat Companies 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.