Brainerd: Hillary Will final summary

Will comes up short against Kalitta teammate

Stays ninth in points

BRAINERD, Minn. (August 13, 2006) -- Although Hillary Will, in the KB Racing-owned, Kalitta-managed Top Fuel dragster, remained in the No. 9 spot in the NHRA POWERade point standings, she lost a close race on a day that was less than ideal in the overall weather department. She now has 710 POWERade points, 48 points behind eighth place.

After qualifying concluded yesterday afternoon with Will in the No. 10 qualifying position, it rained off and on throughout the evening. Rain again greeted fans and competitors today. Prerace ceremonies, driver introductions, and a visit with the governor of Minnesota were held in light to moderate rain which eventually delayed the start of the 25th running of the Lucas Oil Nationals.

After a one hour and 50 minute hold, racing got underway. As the second pair on the green track, Will squared off against Kalitta Motorsports teammate David Grubnic. With the Safety Safari preparing a good Brainerd International Raceway track surface after all the rain, it was a drag race.

Will ran a 4.577 pass, while Grubnic was just a tick faster at 4.570 seconds. The margin of victory for Grubnic was just under a minute three hundredths of a second. Neither driver could be upset with the performance of their dragster.

"It was a good race for the fans," said Will following the match up with Grubnic, "but from a driver point of view, I'm disappointed that we came up short."

Will and her KB Racing-owned , Kalitta Motorsports-managed team now move straight to Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn., the "Home of the Blues" and the adopted city of Elvis Presley, for the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, Aug. 18-20.

"I think we'll do better in Memphis both in qualifying and eliminations," said Will's crew chief Jim Oberhofer. "I plan to have the clutch more in sync with the engine power, which should return the KB Racing, Kalitta Motorsports dragster to the consistency we have previously experienced. In turn we should have a better experience for Hillary at the next race."

-credit: kb racing