Gainesville, FL – Today’s win marked J.R. Todd’s first-ever Gatornationals victory and gave him a sweep of the NHRA “Grand Slam” of the

four biggest races in the sport – the Winternationals, the Gatornationals, the U.S. Nationals and the NHRA Finals. He also won the 2018 Funny Car world championship. This was his 19th career NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series victory and his 10th in a Funny Car since moving to the series in 2017. He becomes just the 18th driver in history to win 10 Nitro Funny Car events.

“It was nice to put our DHL Toyota Camry in the winner’s circle,” said Todd. “Our goal every week is to show up and win. 2021 is a new year and it’s a good way to start off the season with a win here at one of the biggest races of the year. Now we need to ride that momentum as long as we can. This is one you want to check off the list when you see the schedule whether it’s the first race or the third race. It’s the first time this has ever been the first race of the season and I guess we’re the points leader until we get out west.”

Getting the Gatornationals win secured his place in history as a “Grand Slam” NHRA event winner.

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YPSILANTI, MI – In advance of the historic NHRA Gatornationals , the first race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, multi-time world championship team Kalitta Motorsports launched their own apparel website ShopTeamKalitta. The site offers fans the opportunity to buy t-shirts, caps, vintage crew shirts, women’s apparel as well as a wide variety of other team merchandise options. The website will also be accessible by the fans at the track by scanning QR codes placed on all our transporter rigs back door, as well as at our corporate VIP hospitality check-in desk.  Throughout the off-season fans weighed in on possible designs and Kalitta Motorsports took that input to heart producing items that were the most popular through social media online voting.

“We know what we like, but we also wanted to listen to our fans and customer when it came to t-shirt and hat designs,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports general manager. “We have a great new partner in Stitches Ink that can produce our products in limited numbers so we can be flexible with designs and also offer one-off designs almost instantaneously.”

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YPSILANTI, MI – Kalitta Motorsports is pleased to announce that Rowdy Energy, the enhanced hydration energy drink created by two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, will become the official energy drink of the multi-time world championship winning team in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series through a strategic marketing partnership in advance of the 52nd annual NHRA Gatornationals.

Rowdy Energy branding will be featured on each Kalitta Motorsports vehicle and product will be available in the Kailtta Motorsports VIP hospitality area. Additionally, Rowdy Energy will have a presence on the helmets of drivers Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, and J.R. Todd and all three have become official Rowdy Energy Athletes.

Created by Busch in collaboration with beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church, Rowdy Energy is quickly becoming the go-to smart energy drink for not just all-star athletes but the weekend warrior, superhero mom, the ambitious college student as well as men and women in uniform.  Comprised of precise time-released caffeine, sugar reduction ingredients, amazing taste and hydration levels above leading sports drinks, Rowdy Energy is a “better for you” product. Rowdy Energy seeks to support those that embody a spirit of high performance.

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YPSILANTI, MI – Kalitta Motorsports will partner with Mechanix Wear to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary during the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. All three Kalitta-backed teams will utilize Mechanix Wear gloves in the shop and on the road. Additionally, Kalitta Motorsports will employ their social media channels for product giveaways and product announcements.

“We are excited to be a part of celebrating Mechanix Wear’s 30th anniversary,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports’ General Manager. “We have used Mechanix Wear gloves for a number of seasons, and they continue to lead the way in work glove innovation and comfort. We require a variety of options due to different work environments and Mechanix Wear always seems to have the perfect glove for the job. We look forward to the future of our partnership as Mechanix Wear continues their focus on cutting-edge innovation, advanced material technologies, and collaborating with the best partners.”

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Gainesville, FL – DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car driver J.R. Todd has a passion for NHRA Camping World Drag Racing as well as a wide variety of other forms of motorsports. He grew up in the Junior Dragster League and throughout his career he has taken a keen interest in learning from other forms of racing to give himself an edge on the drag strip. His experience and at-track education have afforded him the chance to be successful in the Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks tallying nine national event victories in each class. This weekend at the 52nd annual Gatornationals Todd will be looking for his tenth Funny Car win and first at the historic event on the east coast.

“For me, Gainesville is right up there at the top with winning Indy,” said Todd, a two-time U.S. Nationals Funny Car winner. “It’s one of the biggest races in our sport along with the U.S. Nationals and the Pomona races. It’s one that I’ve always wanted to check off the list, but haven’t been able to. Hopefully, we can do that here in 2021. The Gatornationals is one of the most historic and prestigious races on the tour. It’s like the east coast version of the Winternationals and it brings out a lot of the legends of our sport and some great memories. We’d like to add our name to that list of winners.”

Todd enters the 2021 campaign looking for his second Funny Car world championship in the last four years after winning the title in 2018. Last year Todd and his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car team battled through a tough season that did not allow the team to establish a rhythm. They raced to a number of final rounds but could not run the table on race day.

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Gainesville, FL – Last year Shawn Langdon and his DHL/Kalitta Air Top Fuel team took home the title at the biggest race of the season, the prestigious U.S. Nationals and finished sixth in the Top Fuel point standings. After two years in a Funny Car where he became just the 17th driver ever to win in both Funny Car and Top Fuel, the return to the dragster ranks was an easy transition. This year after multiple days of testing in West Palm Beach Langdon is ready to make a run at one more historic win. Already the owner to championship trophies from the U.S. Nationals, the Winternationals and the NHRA Finals, a Gatornationals victory would give him the “Grand Slam” of historic wins.

“For me, it’s just about winning races,” said Langdon. “That’s the biggest thing. The Gatornationals is a big race and it’s a track that I haven’t won at.  Regardless of where it is, I’d like to win at every track and Gainesville is one of them. Gainesville is a track that I haven’t won at yet. So, I definitely have a lot of motivation there to do well. This year it’s the season kick-off and I’m looking forward to going there and, hopefully, we can have some success. It’s eluded me for a number of years and I’d like to get that checked off the list.”

As a 15-time Top Fuel winner Langdon knows what it takes on race day to get a win. The biggest hurdle all the NHRA competitors will have to overcome is a longer than usual off-season. It has been almost five months since Langdon has filled the seat of his DHL/Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster in competition conditions.

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Gainesville, FL – The past three seasons Doug Kalitta has started the season off with four straight win lights on race day and a trip to the winner’s circle behind the wheel of his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. For the perennial championship contender the traditional season opening NHRA Winternationals has been his playground. This year if Kalitta wants to extend his win streak to four, he will have to make it happen on the opposite coast. The start of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will kick off at the historic Gatornationals for the first time ever this weekend.

“I love running Gainesville,” said Kalitta, a three-time Gatornationals Top Fuel champion. “I’ve always been a big Don Garlits fan and that’s his home. To be able to go there and start the season with a win would be huge for us.”

With his next victory Kalitta will become just the fifth driver in NHRA history to win 50 Top Fuel events. Last year he won his 700th round of racing continuing to add his Hall of Fame career stats. The history of successful season starts has Kalitta confident in his chances of winning his fourth consecutive season-opener.

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YPSILANTI, MI – Revchem Composites is extending its relationship with Kalitta Motorsports  into the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season starting at the 52nd annual NHRA Gatornationals. The multi-time world championship drag racing team will once again be working with Revchem Composites, one of the leading composite distribution companies in the United States, throughout the course of the season on technical opportunities as well as strategic partnerships with their many corporate partners. Additionally, Revchem will be featured on all three Kalitta Motorsports race cars in 2021.

“Even with a shortened season last year we made some great strides working with Revchem Composites and we are looking forward to enhancing that relationship this season even more,” said Chad Head, General Manager Kalitta Motorsports. “Their expertise was invaluable last season and we also made strides in the off-season. They have so many ideas and possibilities for our race teams. We are focusing on connecting them with our existing sponsors as the season progresses. As I said last year when this relationship started, the biggest advantage we see is how well our core values align. Both our organizations are built on increased productivity and excellence.”

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YPSILANTI, MI – Moving into the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, the entire Kalitta Motorsports operation will be outfitted with Fatheadz Eyewear for both sunglasses and prescription frames. Fatheadz Eyewear will be recognized as the Official Eyewear of Kalitta Motorsports beginning with the 52nd NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.  Through the relationship, every member of all three of the Kalitta Motorsports race teams will have Fatheadz Eyewear products, all three race cars will feature Fatheadz Eyewear logos and driver and consumer co-promotions will be conducted throughout the season.

“This is a great partnership and we are excited to show off our new look with Fatheadz Eyewear starting at the Gatornationals,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports general manager. “Being able to clearly see what is happening on the track is critical when you are at the races. The wide variety of Fatheadz Eyewear products combined with the fact they can also provide us with prescription frames means everyone on our team will not just look good, but will visually be in great shape.”

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YPSILANTI, MI – During the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, Kalitta Motorsports will be partnering with A Kid Again, a nonprofit organization fostering hope, happiness and healing for children facing life-threatening conditions and their families. Kalitta’s support will help A Kid Again further their mission of giving families the opportunity to take a time out from illness by attending ongoing Adventures together at NHRA races while they work through significant medical situations. The multi-time world championship team will also be supporting A Kid Again through social media promotions, branding on all three race cars and hosting familiesa the races during the race season.

“We were introduced to the folks at A Kid Again and immediately knew we should get involved with this organization,” said Kalitta Motorsports General Manager Chad Head. “NHRA is a family sport that is all about making memories and having an amazing experience. One of the things that drew us to A Kid Again was their mission of having entire families participate in events and experiences. This is a great organization and we are thrilled to partner with them.”

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