Brady Kalivoda Height: 5'10"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Age: 35
Birthdate: March 23, 1973
Hometown: Seattle, WA
 Residence: Phoenix, AZ

 

Drag racing caught Brady Kalivoda's imagination at an early age. His father, Dick Kalivoda, was a heralded driver having set many NHRA National Records and winning his share of duels on dragstrips during the 60's. While probably best known for piloting "The Joker" Top Fueler from 1968-70, it is the elder Kalivoda's first ride, the famed Kalivoda & Hamlin B/Modified roadster, that can be found in permanent residence in the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California.
Although Dick Kalivoda hung up his driving shoes years before Brady was born in 1973, he managed to stay close to the sport, and some of Brady's earliest memories are of being at the racetrack watching legends like Gary Beck and Shirley Muldowney do battle on the quarter-mile. Fascinated by the personalities, sights, and sounds of what was then, and will always be, America's fastest motorsport, it is not surprising Brady knew early in life that all he wanted to do was pilot racecars when he grew up.
Brady waited until graduation from high school to begin pursuit of his dream, and after earning his NHRA Super Comp license in 1992, partnered with his father and their friend John Tusa in a 200mph, front-engine, nitro-burning A/Fuel dragster. In 1994, 21 year-old Kalivoda won the first event he ever entered taking three elimination rounds by holeshot. Competing in the Northwest Nostalgia Top Eliminator circuit, Kalivoda would win several more times during the next three seasons.
Brady focused his energy on his college studies in 1996 and after graduating magna cum laude from Central Washington University (Bachelor of Science in Accounting), he decided to enter the arena of professional drag racing as a crewmember. Kalivoda saw such an opportunity as not only a forum in which to learn, but as a chance to position himself to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional driver.
Brady joined the Pioneer Electronics Racing Team working as a clutch specialist on Tom Hoover's Funny Car. In 1997, the team scored its first win in four years at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. A week later, Brady drove the Kalivoda & Tusa A/Fuel Dragster to victory in Seattle, completing a "double win" of sorts for the young crewmember/driver.
In 1998, Kalivoda assumed the responsibilities of engine assembler and bottom-end specialist for Jim Head on the Head Racing Top Fuel Dragster. By means of hard work and persistence, Kalivoda steadily gained momentum toward his goal, and during an October 1999 session in Dallas was rewarded with the opportunity to test-drive the Head/Checker Schuck's Kragen Top Fueler, clocking a best of 4.89 at 279mph (pictured).
The 2000 season found Brady as the engine assembler on the Exide Batteries/U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster driven by Tony Schumacher. Under the watchful eyes of team owner Don Schumacher and crew chief Dan Olson, the 1999 NHRA Winston Champions were again found at or near the top of the points standings throughout 2000, claiming four victories in ten final-round appearances, including a win at the prestigious U.S. Nationals.

2001 was a season of grand opportunity for Kalivoda. During an April test session in Atlanta, Brady was able to capitalize on the chance to drive the Hartman Racing/FRAM Top Fuel Dragster, completing his Top Fuel license upgrade in the process. With a 4.88 at 296mph, Kalivoda earned the privilege to reclaim TF competition number 53 -- the same number 53 that adorned his father's racecars decades ago. In July of the same year, Kalivoda made his professional driving debut in front of his hometown crowd at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle. Brady qualified 13th for the event before bowing out to Mike Dunn in the first round. By season's end, Kalivoda had competed in seven NHRA National Events and improved his then career elapsed time and speed marks to 4.67 and 316mph, respectively.
The 2002 NHRA Northwest Nationals was the setting for Kalivoda’s first professional round win. Driving the Peek Bros. Top Fueler, Brady was able to notch a memorable come-from-behind victory in dramatic fashion over Nevada’s Ken Zeal.
In 2002 and 2003, Kalivoda had the privilege of competing as the American representative at the NitrOlympics in Hockenheim, Germany. Racing against Top Fuelers from Great Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany, Kalivoda drove to a semi-final finish and brought home the bronze medal in 2002.
In 2004, industry-leading rod and piston manufacturer Bill Miller hand selected Kalivoda to drive the BME/Okuma Top Fuel Dragster. Together, Kalivoda and the BME team qualified for all 15 NHRA events they attended through early 2005 and posted career bests in elapsed time (4.57) and speed (325mph). Kalivoda left the starting line first on all but one of his opponents, finishing the 2004 season with the best leave percentage and quickest average reaction time in the Top Fuel category.

Kalivoda returned to the quarter-mile in Hockenheim during each of the next two seasons, winning the prestigious NitrOlympics in 2005 and taking runner-up honors in 2006. Kalivoda also holds the German National ET Record at 4.87 seconds.

Kalivoda is back in NHRA competition in 2007 behind the wheel of the Coghlan Motorsports Top Fuel Dragster. Led by crew chief Keith Adams and a veteran all-star crew assembled by team owners Tim and Renee’ Coghlan, Kalivoda ran a career best 4.49 ET at 329.42mph, qualifying
2nd in the team’s debut at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in
Las Vegas.
 

Brady Kalivoda Ready for Battle...

 Bridging the gap between his days as a successful amateur racer and his days as the pilot of the 8,000 horsepower Coghlan Motorsports Top Fuel Dragster are Kalivoda’s years of experience behind the ropes. This experience, Brady is certain comes into play. Says Kalivoda, “I think the more a person knows about how their race car functions, the more valuable he or she can be in their role as a driver.  I’ve been fortunate
 to learn from the best, and hopefully I can continue to apply what I know mechanically to my role in the cockpit.”
 

One thing is for certain, the opportunity to compete against drag racing’s best in the sport’s elite class marks the realization of a lifelong dream for the second-generation racer from Seattle, and he’s enjoying every split-second of it.