Doug Kalitta Will Pilot Red Line Dragster While Connie Kalitta Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Racing

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 4, 2009: Doug Kalitta, driver of the Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster, heads to Indianapolis, Ind., this Labor Day weekend September 4 - 7, with hopes of winning a Top Fuel trophy at O’Reilly Raceway Park after securing runner-up status at the 2008 event. Team owner and drag racing legend Connie Kalitta will also celebrate 50 years of drag racing at Indy with a rare gathering of NHRA legends for a tribute roast and dinner with proceeds going to charity.

Doug Kalitta currently sits in 9th place in Full Throttle championship points. Only the top ten in points are eligible for NHRA's "postseason", the Countdown to 1, which begins at the Charlotte event, Sept. 17-20. Kalitta, who is 83 points in front of 10th place, is hoping that he and his Red Line Oil team can secure a few round wins over the long holiday weekend at one of the sport’s most storied racetracks.

"We’ve been working hard on the car and we are looking forward to a fun, safe and fast race at Indy," Doug, a 44-year old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., said. "Last year we nearly won the U.S. Nationals, and the team, the car and I are all ready to make some serious headway this weekend."

Team owner Connie Kalitta was the first top fuel driver to break the 200mph barrier at the U.S. Nationals in 1964, five years after entering the sport. To celebrate Connie’s golden anniversary in the sport, Kalitta Motorsports will host “Barbecuing the Bounty Hunter: The Roast of Conrad Kalitta” on Sunday, September 6 at 5:30 p.m. (or 2 hours after nitro qualifying session ends) to 8:30 p.m. The roast will be held at the Mac Tools Hospitality tent and will be open to the public with ticket sales benefiting the Racers for Christ organization.

Drag racing broadcaster Bob Frey will M.C. the roast with roving reporter Alan Reinhart skimming the audience in search of entertaining Connie Kalitta stories. The roasters putting Connie on the hot seat will be Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Jim Head, Chris “The Greek” Karamesines and other special guests to be announced. Seats are still available, and everyone who attends will receive a commemorative gift. If you would like to help support the event, please contact Rachel Brunner at (734) 544-7000 or Rachel@kalittaracing.co