KB Racing LLC: Will heads to eliminations in No. 7 spot
KB RACING LLC-owned, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS-managed TOP FUEL DRAGSTER HILLARY WILL (www.hillarywillrace.com) -- DRIVER JIM OBERHOFER (Jim O.) - CREW CHIEF 52nd ANNUAL NHRA MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS O'REILLY RACEWAY PARK IN INDIANAPOLIS AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 4, 2006 QUALIFYING: Friday, Session 1: 4.547 seconds at 325.69 mph (#7) Saturday, Session 2: 4.565 seconds at 323.97 mph (#8) Saturday, Session 3: 4.531 seconds at 324.67 mph (#7) Sunday, Session 4: 4.627 seconds at 314.17 mph (#7) Sunday, Session 5: 4.602 seconds at 320.89 mph (#7) Will heads to eliminations in No. 7 spot CLERMONT, Ind. (September 3, 2006) - Hillary Will qualified her KB Racing-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster in the No. 7 position for the 52nd running of the premier event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, with a pass of 4.531 seconds at 324.67 mph. Will, whose dragster has been consistent through the five qualifying at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, hopes to build on the success of her last two races - a final round appearance at the last NHRA race in Memphis and a win at the just completed race in Norwalk, Ohio. "We do have a consistent car," said Will. "We went down the track five out of five times and if you count back a race that's nine out of nine times. This is a Monday race. Mondays have been good for us recently because we've gone to the finals the last two Mondays in a row and we won one of those. Hopefully, good things are in our future tomorrow." "It's going to be hardball out there tomorrow," added Jim Oberhofer, Will's crew chief. "We have a tough opponent in Brandon Bernstein and we need to build on our qualifying time, a 4.53, from yesterday. The driver is going to need to be on the top of her game. The team is going to need to be on the top of our game. In short, we need to get after it tomorrow." Last year, driving a Top Alcohol Dragster, Will came close to taking home a Wally from the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the race called by many the most prestigious event on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule. This year she hopes to win in the KB Racing-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed dragster. Against No. 10 qualifier Brandon Bernstein, Will begins her quest for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Top Fuel title tomorrow, Labor Day, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. Time is local Indianapolis time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. ESPN2 HD will cover all the qualifying and eliminations action for the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals: Sun., Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. Mon., Sept. 4, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations coverage at noon. Mon., Sept. 4, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 4 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 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 in 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.