Champion drivers from Shirley Muldowney to Brittany Force have made sure the only glass ceiling in NHRA drag racing is the one atop their trophy case.
Now, Rachel DeLago is expanding the sport’s list of accomplishments by females.
Hall of Fame racer Connie Kalitta named DeLago general manager of his four-car team in January, putting her in charge of all business operations, when Jim Oberhofer stepped down to focus exclusively on duties as Doug Kalitta’s crew chief. She won first-time out in that historic role as Doug Kalitta took the Top Fuel victory two weeks ago in Pomona, Calif.
“I don't want to take away from the groundwork those strong women have done, but I don't necessarily look at it as a gender thing,” DeLago said before today’s Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
More: NHRA Arizona Nationals: Brittany Force returns to track after scary accident
DeLago has been in the Kalitta organization since 2007 and earned a Masters in communications management from USC. Her husband, Tommy, is crew chief for Shawn Langdon, who with J.R. Todd drives the team’s Toyota Funny Cars. Doug Kalitta and Richie Crampton drive the dragsters.
“I feel confident we have the four top talented drivers,” DeLago said. “We've got a few who need a kick in the butt every once in a while. If I don't kick them in the butt, I'm going to get kicked in the butt (by Connie Kalitta, laughing.)”
A key task is working with primary sponsors Mac Tools, DHL, Kalitta Air and Global Electronics.
“We could lose in first round and that's really terrible,” she said. “But the sponsor might be able to say, ‘We had this business-to-business deal that just earned our company $10 million.' You win in other areas.”
‘Sarge’ marches on
“Fear the old men in a world where men die young” reads a T-shirt recently given to Tony Schumacher by a Special Forces soldier.
“It reminds you I’m here for a reason,” said Top Fuel’s all-time leader with eight championships and 83 wins. “We win races for a reason. We’ve been through the crashes. We’ve been upside down and on fire. We’ve figured out how to get through that and win anyways.”
Getting beat isn’t any more acceptable to Schumacher, 48, than to his sponsor, the U.S. Army. With only three victories the last two seasons team owner Don Schumacher (Tony’s father) replaced crew chief Mike Green with Mike Neff, hired away from John Force.
Schumacher maintained the No. 1 spot in Saturday qualifying with his 3.649 second, 334.65 mph 1,000-foot run from Friday. He’ll race Glendale’s Greg Carrillo in the first round.
“Mike’s bringing a completely different thought process, which we need,” said Schumacher, known as ‘The Sarge.’ “He’s a brilliant guy, smart mind, aggressive tuner. Let him come in with some new ideas.”
Clutch Courtney
Courtney Force’s Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro moved past Ron Capps and atop the Funny Car ladder in the next-to-last qualifying pass with 3.826, 335.98 mph, both track records. It was a lift for the whole Force team after sister Brittany’s huge Top Fuel crash two weeks ago in Pomona, Calif.
“It’s a boost of positive energy in our camp,” admitted Force, who had seven poles but no wins last season.
In Pro Stock, Deric Kramer earned his first career pole.
Ford returns
The Blue Oval is back.
Ford exited the Funny Car class after the 2014 season. Bob Tasca III, whose family has deep Ford connections via dealerships and racing, took it personally and lobbied the automaker to reverse its decision.
“I made so many trips to Detroit they either had to say ‘yes’ or file a restraining order against me,” said Tasca. It worked and he qualified 12th in the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang.
Sight set
John Force, now 68, admits some competitors expressed concern about his driving last season.
“I was struggling,” said Force, the 16-time Funny Car champion who had just one win in his Peak Chevrolet Camaro. “We had some drivers complain: 'Force, can't he see anymore?' I was driving on the edge but I always have.
“Do you think I want to crash anybody at my age? I had my eyes checked. Eyes are perfect. Just getting a little older. If you eat right, drink right, get enough sleep, the brain don't get stupid on you.”
He qualified fourth.
Great 8?
Jeg Coughlin Jr. is trying to extend his NHRA record of national event wins to eight classes, competing in the Top Sportsman category for the first time in a turbocharged Corvette. Coughlin also is in a Jegs.com Camaro in Pro Stock, where he’s a five-time champion.