KB Racing LLC: Will hopes to duplicate =?windows-1252?Q?Muldowne?= =?windows-1252?Q?y=92s_win_here_30_years_ago_?=
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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 MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 425-557-8899 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 42ND ANNUAL NHRA PONTIAC PERFORMANCE NATIONALS Presented by Summit Racing Equipment NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY – COLUMBUS (KIRKERSVILLE) OHIO MAY 18-21, 2006 QUALIFYING: Friday, Session 1: 10.370 seconds at 75.58 mph (#14) Friday, Session 2: No Time (#16) Saturday, Session 3: 4.624 seconds at 317.87 mph (#14) Saturday, Session 4: 11.159 seconds at 77.31 mph (#14) Will hopes to duplicate Muldowney’s win here 30 years ago KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio (May 20, 2006) – Hillary Will ended qualifying for the NHRA Pontiac Performance Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment in the No. 14 qualifying position. In the opening session of qualifying on Friday, Will’s KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster lost traction in the left lane and smoked the big Goodyears before coasting to a pass of 10.370 seconds. In Friday evening’s session, Will moved to the right lane. As the car was heading toward the finish line her 7000-plus horsepower dragster began moving left toward the center of the track and eventually crossed the centerline putting her car behind Bob Vandergriff’s UPS dragster, which had just pulled the chutes to slow so that he could exit the National Trail Raceway quarter-mile track. Using her driving experience and instincts, Will drove to Vandergriff’s left between his car and the wall, missing any entanglement in the chutes, and slowed her dragster to a stop without any additional problems. Her KB Racing dragster suffered some minor damaged, but her Kalitta Motorsports’ crew, led by crew chief Jim Oberhofer, had the car ready for Saturday’s two final qualifying runs. On Saturday, Will made a strong statement going straight down Broadway with her best run of qualifying, a 4.624 seconds pass. Now she can concentrate on winning just as her mentor Shirley Muldowney did here 30 years ago. “For me to get my first win here at Columbus would be pretty special for me since Shirley got her first win here,” said Will following qualifying. “Just having Shirley’s support and knowing that she is there for me has been special and as rookie this year she has helped me so much. Our team is ready to win this weekend, so hopefully we can do it.” In the opening round of eliminations, Will now squares off against No. 3 qualifier “Hot Rod” Fuller, who covered the quarter-mile in 4.516 seconds. This will be the second meeting for the pair, with Fuller taking the win light at Phoenix. Will begins her quest for the Pontiac Performance Nationals Top Fuel title on Sunday, May 21, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. Time is local Columbus time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Qualifying highlights for the 42nd Pontiac Performance Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment can be seen on ESPN2 this evening (May 20) from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 8 until 11 p.m. on Sunday (May 21). The elimination show repeats early Tuesday morning (May 23) 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 morning, May 21, 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. ####