Kalitta Motorsports, Ken Black announce partnership

NHRA's Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel Team and Pro Stock Owner Ken Black Announce New Top Fuel Partnership

Kent, Wash., July 22, 2005 -- Kalitta Motorsports, the National Hot Rod Association's only full-time, three-car Top Fuel dragster team, and prominent Pro Stock owner Ken Black have formed an alliance for the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series that will introduce a fourth Top Fuel dragster to the Kalitta Motorsports stable of championship race cars. The 7,000-horsepower dragster will make its debut at the 2006 season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., to join the Team Kalitta entries currently driven by Doug Kalitta, Scott Kalitta and "Aussie Dave" Grubnic.

In the newly formed union, Ken Black, who owns the Pro Stock entries of two-time World Champion Greg Anderson and Jason Line, will own the new Top Fuel team. The day-to-day operations of the new nitro dragster will be managed by Kalitta Motorsports at the team's headquarters in Ypsilanti, Mich. Kalitta Motorsports team owner and drag racing legend Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta will oversee the tune-up of the new rail, as he currently does on his other dragsters.

"This is an incredible opportunity for me," Black said. "Connie and his teams have proven that they are the best in the business of Top Fuel racing. My son Kenny and "the Cowboys" (Bob Coffman and Glen Williams, who are friends of Black and whose Las Vegas-based Technicoat Companies has been a long-time Kalitta Motorsports associate sponsor) got me interested in Top Fuel. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to expand my racing program and go racing with Connie as a partner.

"We would like to debut the new car in my hometown of Las Vegas this fall, but we'll see what happens. We will definitely be ready to challenge for the Top Fuel championship in 2006 when the season starts in Pomona."

Black will maintain ownership of both of his Pro Stock teams in 2006.

In regards to who will drive the new fourth dragster for the new quarter-mile combination, Kalitta Motorsports Team Manager Jim Oberhofer said, "We are in the process of interviewing several prominent drivers, and we'll look at what will be the best fit for everyone involved and for potential sponsors. We hope to make a decision and announcement regarding the driver at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis coming up at the end of August."

An announcement regarding the crew chief and further details about the new Top Fuel partnership will be made in the near future.

About Kalitta Motorsports

Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is the only full-time three-car Top Fuel drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) POWERade Drag Racing Series. The racing operation was started in 1959 by now legendary drag racer and team owner Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta. His son Scott Kalitta drives the Mac Tools/Jesse James dragster. Scott's cousin, Connie's nephew, Doug Kalitta drives the flagship dragster for Mac Tools. Native Australian David Grubnic drives the third dragster under the banner of Zantrex-3.

Connie serves as crew chief for all three Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Rahn Tobler (Mac Tools dragster), Jim Oberhofer (Mac Tools/Jesse James dragster) and Jon Oberhofer (Zantrex-3 dragster).

Associate sponsors on all three race cars include Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies and Fischer Honda.

For more info, latest news, audio and video, please visit www.kalittaracing.com.

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