NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Stringer Performance will have a new crew chief when it rolls into the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend in Las Vegas as Jim Oberhofer will take over the tuning on the Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster driven by Clay Millican for the remainder of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

“We are so happy to have Jim O join our racing family and make a run for the championship,” said team owner Doug Stringer. “His leadership qualities will definitely guide this race team to success. In addition, Jim O’s experience and expertise with this Top Fuel class will be a perfect combination to keep us contending all season long."

Oberhofer has been a staple in the professional drag racing world for many years, learning from the best in the business, and now gets an opportunity to take this top-five-in-points race team to the next level, starting with the Las Vegas national event this weekend.

"I'm excited to join Stringer Performance and the Parts Plus Team as their new crew chief,” said Oberhofer. “I am also looking forward to working with Clay Millican and the rest of the passionate Parts Plus Crew to build off of what they already have in place. I believe round-wins and race wins are right around the corner for this dedicated group, and I can't wait to get started.”

With close to four decades of experience in the NHRA, it is safe to say that accomplished Oberhofer is a veteran of the sport. A childhood filled with visits to various racetracks to watch his father, Dave, race a Top Fuel dragster led to a passion for nitro racing that would later become his calling. Oberhofer started his racing career in 1985 at 18 when he turned wrenches on the Alcohol Funny Car of Frank Cook and Chuck Landers. Just three years later, he found himself working on Scott Kalitta’s nitro Funny Car to begin a 30-year career with Kalitta Motorsports. 

By 2000, Oberhofer had worked his way up to become co-crew chief on Doug Kalitta’s Top Fuel Dragster alongside Connie “The Bounty Hunter” Kalitta before becoming both the lead crew chief on Scott Kalitta’s dragster and General Manager of Operations of Kalitta Motorsports in 2003. 

During his time as general manager, Oberhofer oversaw the expansion of Kalitta Motorsports from a one-car team to a powerhouse operating four nitro-fueled machines and an intricate chassis and CNC shop. Between serving as a crewmember, crew chief, and general manager, Oberhofer has tallied more than 90 national event wins and three NHRA championships. The Plano, Texas, native attributes his success in racing to his focus on teamwork and instilling a “Together Everyone Achieves More” mindset to any pit crew he leads.