KB Racing LLC: For Will focus shifts to Las Vegas
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 19th ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY SPRING NATIONALS HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK - HOUSTON (BAYTOWN) TEXAS MARCH 31-APRIL 2, 2006 Qualified: # 14 (4.645 seconds at 319.67 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: Will (4.599/321.12 mph) def. Doug Herbert (5.206/235.56 mph) Round 2: Will (7.071/117.34 mph) def. Clay Millican (4.663/315.27 mph) Hillary Will out in round two Focus shifts to Las Vegas BAYTOWN, Texas (April 2, 2006) - After defeating No. 3 qualifier Doug Herbert in the opening round of eliminations, AAA Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future (Rookie of the Year) candidate Hillary Will was turned back by Clay Millican at the 19th annual NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals in the quarter- finals. The KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster tried to go into tire smoke (lose traction) as Will left the starting line against Millican in round two. Crew chief Jim Oberhofer (Jim O.) explained what happen on the run. "It pulled the tires," said Jim O. "Hillary felt the tires start to break loose and pedaled (got off and on the throttle) the car. She did a good job trying to salvage the run. For whatever reason the tune up picked that run to be aggressive. We haven't had that problem since Phoenix. We'll spend some time reviewing what happened and then focus on Vegas." In the first round Will took the measure of Doug Herbert, who smoked the tires during their match up. On that pass Will recorded her best pass of the weekend, covering the quarter-mile in 4.599 seconds. The problems in round two prevented Will from reaching the first semifinal of her professional career. "The tires shook a short time after leaving the starting line," recalled Will after the run. "It was unexpected since we had made five runs consecutive run this weekend without experiencing any tire problems. We were surprised it shook the tires. It was an up and down weekend for the team but this one is behind us and all our concentration is now on Las Vegas." ESPN2 will air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations for the 19th annual NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals starting this afternoon at 4 p.m. this (April 2). The elimination show repeats early Wednesday morning (April 5) from 2:30-4:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. Will and her KB Racing team now move directly to Las Vegas, home of team owner Ken Black, for the seventh annual SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event, first of two held in Las Vegas, will be contested next weekend, April 6-9. 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.