KB Racing LLC: Will turned back in opening round
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 21st ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS TEXAS MOTORPLEX - DALLAS SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2006 Qualifying: No. 14 (4.668 seconds at 317.57 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: Will (4.709/295.98) lost to J. R. Todd (4.570/319.60) Will turned back in opening round ENNIS, Texas. (September 24, 2006) - Hillary Will was turned back by J.R. Todd in the opening round of the 21st annual NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals. Will's KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster covered the Texas Motorplex track in 4.709 seconds, while Todd crossed the finish line with an elapsed time of 4.570 seconds. In reviewing the race against Todd, Will said, "It was slightly disappointing because you always want to win. I left and didn't see him so I knew he was either right next to me or I was ahead of him. The car felt like it was on a good run most of the way, then all of a sudden I felt the tires start to spin. I thought oh no. I felt like I was standing still. J.R. passed by me and that was it." "The track was not what we've come to expect from an NHRA prepared track," said Jim O., Will's crew chief, immediately following the first round. "That's a shame because the Texas Motorplex and its all-concrete surface is known for its quick elapsed times and its top speeds. It's recognized as one of the best racing surfaces on the circuit. "Looking back, we got behind early in qualifying and never caught up. By having to adjust so that we made sure we got in on the final qualifying, we lost lane choice. We got the left lane and it bit us." ESPN2 will air same-day television coverage of eliminations from the 21st annual NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals from 7 until 10 p.m., tonight (Sunday, Sept. 24). The elimination show repeats early Thursday morning (Sept. 28) from 3-5 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. Will and her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel team now return to Reading, Penn., and Maple Grove Raceway, for the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals, which was postponed last weekend. The event is scheduled for this coming weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. 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. ####