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POMONA, Calif. -- Hillary Will's first year as a professional Top Fuel driver comes full circle as she and her KB Racing LLC team prepare for the 42nd annual NHRA Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.) this weekend.
Will began her rookie season in February at the season-opening event in Pomona. Since that time, the former resident of Fortuna, in Northern California, has qualified for all 22 races. At Bristol in the spring, she qualified second and most recently No. 4 at the last race in Las Vegas.
During her 2006 learning curve, she recorded a career-best elapsed time of 4.507 seconds at Atlanta and drove her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster to a runner-up finish at Memphis and posted semifinal finishes at Englishtown and Sonoma.
"After this final race at Pomona, I won't be considered a rookie anymore but I will still continue to learn as much as I can throughout my racing career," said Will.
"The most important aspect that I've taken away from my learning experience thus far is that the more confidence I have in my own driving ability, the better off I'll be. No matter what advice I receive or criticism I receive or no matter what happened on the previous run or in the previous race, I have learned how important it is to maintain confidence in my own ability each and every time I pull up to the starting line."
Currently No. 10 in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings, Will is going all out at Pomona to maintain a spot in the top ten final standings. Morgan Lucas, currently 11th, Will and Cory McClenathan (No. 9) are all separated by less than one round of competition (15 points). Will is just one point behind McClenathan and 49 behind rookie J.R. Todd, who occupies the eighth position. This should make for some close racing in this season-ending event as drivers try to solidify their final position in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standing.
Qualifying for Will and her KB Racing Top Fuel dragster begins with one session each on Thursday and Friday scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and concludes with two additional sessions on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Will begins her quest for the Auto Club Finals Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Pomona time (PT) and subject to change at anytime.
Television: Qualifying highlights for the 42nd annual NHRA Auto Club Finals can be seen on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD on Saturday (Nov. 11) from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight. ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m., Sunday (Nov. 12). The elimination show repeats early Tuesday morning (Nov. 14) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen early Sunday afternoon, Nov. 12, from 12:30-1 p.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and the Technicoat Companies are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings, second in 2004 and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. At the last race in Las Vegas, Line clinched the 2006 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Championship, While his teammate Anderson has also clinched second.
Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006.
Will Closes Out Rookie Season at Pomona
POMONA, Calif. -- Hillary Will's first year as a professional Top Fuel driver comes full circle as she and her KB Racing LLC team prepare for the 42nd annual NHRA Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.) this weekend.
Will began her rookie season in February at the season-opening event in Pomona. Since that time, the former resident of Fortuna, in Northern California, has qualified for all 22 races. At Bristol in the spring, she qualified second and most recently No. 4 at the last race in Las Vegas.
During her 2006 learning curve, she recorded a career-best elapsed time of 4.507 seconds at Atlanta and drove her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster to a runner-up finish at Memphis and posted semifinal finishes at Englishtown and Sonoma.
"After this final race at Pomona, I won't be considered a rookie anymore but I will still continue to learn as much as I can throughout my racing career," said Will.
"The most important aspect that I've taken away from my learning experience thus far is that the more confidence I have in my own driving ability, the better off I'll be. No matter what advice I receive or criticism I receive or no matter what happened on the previous run or in the previous race, I have learned how important it is to maintain confidence in my own ability each and every time I pull up to the starting line."
Currently No. 10 in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings, Will is going all out at Pomona to maintain a spot in the top ten final standings. Morgan Lucas, currently 11th, Will and Cory McClenathan (No. 9) are all separated by less than one round of competition (15 points). Will is just one point behind McClenathan and 49 behind rookie J.R. Todd, who occupies the eighth position. This should make for some close racing in this season-ending event as drivers try to solidify their final position in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standing.
Qualifying for Will and her KB Racing Top Fuel dragster begins with one session each on Thursday and Friday scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and concludes with two additional sessions on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Will begins her quest for the Auto Club Finals Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Pomona time (PT) and subject to change at anytime.
Television: Qualifying highlights for the 42nd annual NHRA Auto Club Finals can be seen on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD on Saturday (Nov. 11) from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight. ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m., Sunday (Nov. 12). The elimination show repeats early Tuesday morning (Nov. 14) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen early Sunday afternoon, Nov. 12, from 12:30-1 p.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and the Technicoat Companies are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings, second in 2004 and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. At the last race in Las Vegas, Line clinched the 2006 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Championship, While his teammate Anderson has also clinched second.
Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006.
