LAS VEGAS -- Native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the bright yellow, Nitro-fueled, 8,000-horsepower DHL Top Fuel dragster, and his DHL/Kalitta Motorsports teammate and native Canadian Jeff Arend, driver of the Nitro-fueled DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, both have two of the top performing race cars in the NHRA POWERade Drag racing Series and both are hoping for a little luck this weekend, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, during the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“Our DHL dragster is capable of being the best car on the grounds at every show we go to,” Grubnic, a 46-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Connie (Kalitta, team owner and crew chief) certainly know how to make huge horsepower, but we’ve had some bad breaks this year with keeping our car consistent. Maybe this weekend we can cash in some luck in Vegas and take our car to the winner’s circle.”

Grubnic is in 10th place in POWERade points and in the NHRA Countdown to 1 postseason.

Arend, a 46-year old resident of San Dimas, Calif., echoed his teammate’s feelings and enthusiasm about this weekend’s event, “Our DHL Funny Car has been having some of the same issues that Dave and the DHL dragster team have had. We’ve really been able to turn our program around here near the end of the season and get a much better performing race car, but we, too, need to get more consistent.

“I really want to see an all yellow and red winner’s circle this weekend in Vegas. With a little help from Lady Luck, we just might make that happen.”

Both Grubnic and Arend will participate in the NHRA Fanfest, Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the 3rd Street section of the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The event is open to the public, and admission is free. Arend will also be playing in the Speedway Children's Charities fifth annual Cards for Kids Texas Hold 'em poker tournament tonight at the Cannery Casino & Hotel.

In early 2004, Grubnic was hired to drive for legendary team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and Kalitta Motorsports. In the fall of ‘04, Grubnic won the lucrative and coveted Budweiser Shootout in Las Vegas, becoming only the fourth driver in the special event's history to win its $100,000 prize in his first attempt. Grubnic picked up an emotional first NHRA national event win in May, 2005 in Topeka, Kans., to become the first non-native North American to win a Top Fuel trophy. He has one other event victory to date, the 2006 running of the famed Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

Kalitta Motorsports team owner and drag racing legend Connie Kalitta chose Arend to drive the DHL Toyota Solara mount in late July to help preserve the legacy of his legendary son, Scott Kalitta, who died as result of a high-speed Funny Car qualifying accident in Englishtown, N.J., June 21. Arend is a 13-year Funny Car veteran with one NHRA Funny Car national event win to his credit – Reading, Pa., 1996.

Qualifying for the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals begins Friday for the Nitro-fueled classes with two qualifying sessions at 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 4:00 p.m. Two more qualifying sessions take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The top 16 qualified cars will race Sunday in final eliminations beginning at 11:00 a.m.

All times and dates subject to change.

About Kalitta Motorsports

Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car 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. Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta drives the flagship Top Fuel dragster for Mac Tools. Native Australian Dave Grubnic drives the DHL Top Fuel dragster, Jeff Arend drives the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, and Hillary Will drives the Ken Black-owned and Kalitta Motorsports-managed KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster.

Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer (KB Racing, LLC dragster) and Glenn Mikres (DHL Funny Car). Connie serves as crew chief on the DHL dragster with assistance from co-crew chief James Riola. Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante are co-crew chiefs on the Mac Tools dragster.

Associate sponsors on all Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, K2M, and Toyota.

For more info about Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.