There is menacing-looking new addition to the Team Kalitta stable. Well, new for one car anyway, but when it arrived yesterday here in Commerce, I was taken a bit aback by its alligator-esque look and thought to myself, which seems to be happening less and less as I age, “This would be a good blog.” So, with the rusty cogs in my brain turning at a somewhat brisk pace from all of this morning’s coffee here at what looks like the beginning of a superspantastic (a hybriword I borrowed from my pal Lisa P., publicist for Doug Herbert) day in Georgia, here I sit, set to blog.

Okay, so what is this piece of new hardware? It’s a new front wing for Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster. I know, probably not the big, exciting crescendo you were expecting, but I think it’s pretty cool, and something that may not be readily noticed with a casual glance. The new wing is essentially a new part for the existing front wings on all three Kalitta Motorsports dragsters. It’s a carbon fiber wicker bill attachment for the top of the wing.

Now, not claiming to be anything near an expert in aerodynamics, I have been asking around our Team Kalitta pit area for two days seeking an explanation of all the finer tuning points of this new piece, and I have to report that I have received mixed answers. One crew member, who shall remain nameless to protect his perceived innocence, said, “I have no idea but it looks cool!” In fairness to him though, that’s why I started this blog in the first place. I think it looks cool, too. As you can see from the pics, it’s a no-nonsense, standard, run-of-the-mill wicker bill, that is until you reach the center and then havoc ensues with a series of serrations that would make a shark jealous. I have been given several theories as to why this medieval median is there. My personal theory is that somewhere in this world is a giant roll of Scotch tape and this is indeed its tearoff mate. My inner child would really like to see that, but alas, I’m afraid that’s not the case.

From the info I’ve been able to muster, the new wicker bill helps a great deal with the stability of the front of the long, skinny cars which also helps the drivers steer the car much better. With the old two component wings that we used to run, the angle was set somewhere in the 11-degree range to maintain proper downforce on the front of the car. With the new mono-wing and its curious counterpart, the crew-chiefing minds here tell me that we need only run a front wing attack of 4-5 degrees. I told you earlier that I’m not an expert on these sorts of things, but everyone here tells me that that amount is a good thing. As for the incisors in the center, there is function with the form. The small gaps allow some air to “escape” over the wing to the fuel vent located not far behind on the top of the car. I know, again, probably not the dramatic details you wanted, but it’s still pretty cool to look at.

For my part, I’m gonna keep searching for that giant Scotch tape roll that I hope truly does exist out there somewhere, so if you see it, please drop me a line!

Take care everyone. See you at the drags!