CAN 4TH DRAGSTER HELP KALITTA TEAM'S ODDS?

Kalitta Motorsports', the NHRA's only full-time three-car Top Fuel dragster team, drivers Scott Kalitta, Doug Kalitta and "Aussie Dave" Grubnic will attempt win their collective seventh NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series title trophy of 2005 this weekend at Englishtown.

Team Kalitta's chances of grabbing their seventh win this weekend in Englishtown, only the 11th NHRA national event of the season, will be increased with the addition of a fourth Top Fuel dragster driven by Ben Marshall (shown).

Kalitta race cars have made six straight final-round appearances (Las Vegas 1, Bristol, Tenn., Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, Topeka, Kan., and Joliet, Ill.) with four wins (Bristol,

ADVERTISEMENT

Atlanta, Topeka, and Joliet) in the past five events. In the first ten events of 2005, Kalitta race cars have made eight final-round appearances with six wins (Doug - 3, Scott - 2, Grubnic - 1). The two runner-up finishes were by Doug in Las Vegas and Columbus.

"We're still in the lead, and that's good," said Doug. "We've only won one round in the past two races, so to have the lead still is a bit unexpected. Our Mac Tools team is the best in the business, so I'm sure we'll get it gathered back in and make a run for the win in Englishtown." [6-17-2005]

TINSLEY ADDRESS

Cards and letters can be sent to photographer Jeff Tinsley c/o Arlington Hospital Rm.534, 1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington, VA 22205. [6-17-2005]

TAYLOR GOING TO FONTANA/MBR ENGINES

Agent 1320 has been told that Pro Mod racer Frankie "Mad Man" Taylor will be trying out a new engine program, replacing his tried and true wedge with a pair of Fontana/Minor Brothers Racing Chevy "Hemi" engines. Reportedly Taylor took possession of the new engines at the Chicago NHRA Pro Mod event. Taylor, who just recently took delivery of a brand new Jeffers Pro Cars '59 'Vette, went directly from Chicago to Jeffers' Missouri-based shop where the new car was modified to accept the larger size of the MBR block and heads. Bill Kuhlmann ran a version of the MBR engine until he took his self-imposed sabbatical a couple of years back.

The Agent hears that well-known chassis builder Tim McAmis was in line for that deal before it went to Taylor, and that supposedly McAmis built the Minor brothers a '53 'Vette for the project. [6-17-2005]