Yeah, yeah…I know. It was this very writer that told you fans about the new and exciting approach we would have this year with our Team Kalitta blogs. Inserting my foot even deeper in my mouth, I boldly went so far as to show you visual proof that a blog schedule was made for the entire season. But, if you recall, I also told you that I insisted on still calling it a plan…whew! So, we have been a smidge behind lately with the team member blogs, but that will soon change. I should have known better, really. When the season starts things are just way too hectic to expect everything to run smoothly. Ok, enough backpedaling from me…on with today’s entry.

(Understatement Alert) So, Phoenix was not so bad for us.

Phoenix was exciting for us in several different good ways and one not-so-good way. The most glaring example was Grubby’s run to the finals. Going rounds sure does put a lot of smiles on faces, and the energy and excitement that could be felt in our entire pit area was palpable. Once again crewmen from all four teams were eager to lend a hand to make sure the Aussie had a good ride underneath him. Of course, we wanted to win, but a runner-up finish will go a long way in the morale department, too.



I guess you probably heard about Doug’s off-road adventure at the end of the track after his last qualifying lap in the Mac Tools dragster. Yeah, that was pretty scary, and I’m sure Doug has replayed it time and time again in his head, but until you’re in the cockpit of a 8,000-horsepower race car, it’s extremely difficult to pass judgment and say, “He should’ve done this or that.” Doug’s the best race car driver I have ever been around, so if that was a mistake it’s still minute to the many wonderful things he can do and has done in a race car. Doug asked me Sunday morning if there was any backlash in the media about it. I told him a little, but nothing to worry about. He kind of smiled and that was that. I do want to share with you a photo of the tire from when he went up on two wheels, though. The sidewall is scuffed pretty badly. You don’t see that very often on a dragster tire, and I think it’s safe to say that Doug never wants to see one like that again.

The lovely and talented Miss Will set another track speed record in Phoenix…334.32 mph. That’s two races, two records…wow! It’s not going to be very much longer before she and the KB Racing team bring a Wally back to Michigan. I think they’ve banked enough bad luck to last an entire career, so it’s time to start cashing in on some good luck. I sure hope so. The KB team deserves some good breaks for once.

Scott Kalitta beat John Force in round one with the DHL car’s best lap of the weekend. That’s the first time Scott has ever taken out “the Champ” in an elimination round (1-10). The guys in the yellow and red shirts were as pumped up as I have ever seen them after that lap. Hopefully that’s just the tip of the excitement to come for the Kalitta flopper team.



Last, and most definitely not least, we got to celebrate Connie’s birthday on Sunday. “The Bounty Hunter” turned 70 in Phoenix…at a race track…just where he belongs. Well, maybe at 37,000 feet in a Kalitta Air plane would work as a good birthday party locale for him, too, but no matter where he was, it’s an honor for all of us who work for him to call “the Radman” our boss. Thank you Connie for everything you do for us. Also, thanks to all of you who sent birthday wishes to Connie via E-mail. We had a great response, and we’re going to print them all out and present them to him in the very near future.

Okay, so hopefully the “plan” will be back in place the next time you click your mouse in this general direction. Cross your fingers … and maybe even a couple toes!

Until then, Todd has left the building.