August 24, 2003 – American Brady Kalivoda lost in opening round Top Fuel action today at the 18th annual NitrOlympics in Hockenheim, Germany. Driving the Dakota Industries Top Fuel Dragster of Rico Anthes, Kalivoda fell to the Pennzoil machine of Sweden’s Tommy Möller.

Warm temperatures combined with a tricky racing surface to hamper the contestants throughout the course of the three-day event resulting in ultra-conservative performances, especially by the Top Fuel field. Kalivoda’s best qualifying attempt was a blower belt-spitting 5.58, putting him third going into today’s final eliminations behind the 5.24 of Denmark’s Kim Reymond and the 5.38 of Great Britain’s Smax Smith.

In today’s opening frame, Möller, who had qualified fourth with a 5.59, carded a 5.19 at 440.78 km/h to defeat Kalivoda’s tire-spinning 5.46 at 417.56 km/h. Möller went on to defeat Smith in a side-by-side tire-smoker before falling to Switzerland’s Peter Beck in the final, 5.21 to 5.26.

“The conditions got the best of us today,” said Kalivoda. “Credit goes to Möller and company for getting from A to B in that first round; after all, it was a level playing field. They simply did a better job than we did of negotiating the track.”

Kalivoda returned, much to the delight of the nitro-frenzied fans who couldn’t seem to get enough Top Fuel action, for a single run after the completion of the Top Fuel final. Kalivoda laid down a 5.13 – low elapsed time of the event – to bring the 18th annual NitrOlympics to a close.

“It certainly was fun to end the weekend on a note like that,” said Kalivoda. “The fact that the 5.13 was the quickest run of the weekend tells you how tough the track was. But it was low ET nonetheless and the fans loved it, that’s for sure. It would have been nice to run better when it counted, like first round, but we’re happy just the same.”

“I had an absolute blast again this year,” said Kalivoda. “Once again the overall experience was amazing and I sure wouldn’t have to think twice if given the opportunity to come back next year. Who knows, maybe the third time will be the charm and we can bring home some gold hardware in ’04.”

NitrOlympics race results and information can be found at www.dragster.de.
 

August 18, 2003 – Brady Kalivoda is looking forward to making some noise oversees this coming weekend as he ventures to Hockenheim, Germany to compete in one of Europe’s largest drag races, the 18th annual NitrOlympics. Kalivoda will drive the Top Fuel Dragster belonging to Hockenheim track record holder Rico Anthes.

Anthes, a former FIA European Top Fuel Champion and multi-time winner of the event, has opted not to compete for the first time since the inception of the race in 1986. Kalivoda will drive Anthes’ Dakota Industry-sponsored dragster in FIA Top Fuel competition against drivers from Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, and Switzerland. The NitrOlympics is the fifth race in the six-race FIA European Drag Racing Championship series.

This will be Kalivoda’s second trip to Hockenheim to compete, as he drove another Top Fueler for Anthes – the Müller’s American Motorhomes-sponsored dragster – at the 2002 NitrOlympics. Kalivoda posted a semi-final finish, bringing home the “bronze medal” from last year’s event.

“The German fans are wild about drag racing. And I mean wild,” said Kalivoda. “They have such an enthusiasm for the sport, that I was taken aback when I first got there (in 2002.) I wasn’t expecting the crowds. After all, drag racing is an American-born motorsport, and Germany is the land of all things Formula One. But they don’t have 23 National Events to attend like we do in the States; they have one, the NitrOlympics. So it’s their only chance each year to see drag racing in person, and when the fans come to Hockenheim, they come in full force.”

“Last year was such a great experience, getting to do what I love to do in a part of the world I’d never seen before, that it was almost overwhelming,” said Kalivoda. “Aside from having the opportunity to race, I got to meet some great people and see some beautiful country. I can’t wait to get back over there!”

Qualifying for the 18th annual NitrOlympics will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 22 and 23, with eliminations on Sunday, August 24. Race results and information can be found at www.dragster.de.
 

July 27, 2003 – Brady Kalivoda’s weekend came to an early end Saturday afternoon as he was bumped from the 16th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Top Fuel field after shutting off his Lucas Oil / NitroFish.com machine during his final qualifying attempt.

The fourth and final qualifying session paired the Seattle native with Paul Romine of Indianapolis, IN. On the run, Romine suffered an engine explosion as he neared the finish line, scattering debris over the surface of the racetrack. Kalivoda’s elapsed time of 5.08 was nullified as NHRA officials determined that debris from Romine’s engine actually tripped the lights in Kalivoda’s lane.

“It’s a moot point that our run was thrown out,” said Kalivoda. “The car dropped a cylinder and I shut off at a couple hundred feet. It wasn’t going to run the number. Turns out it was a blessing in disguise, of sorts, that I lifted when I did. After the run the crew discovered a broken exhaust rocker in the engine’s valve train. Had I stayed in it much longer, I most likely would have had a fireball of my own trailing behind me.”

It was a disappointing and seemingly premature end to a weekend filled with high hopes for the hometown favorite. Kalivoda has been competing at Pacific Raceways since 1994 and made his Top Fuel debut at this event in 2001. Kalivoda lit a fire for Northwest drag racing by scoring his first Top Fuel round victory here last year. This year, his ride hit the proverbial speed bump.

Kalivoda’s first qualifying attempt was stunted Friday when the Mitch King-owned car suffered an oil filter failure on the burnout, resulting in a sizeable oil-down and a lengthy cleanup of the left lane. Kalivoda was posting good early incremental numbers on his first attempt Saturday, only to have the supercharger drive belt on the Lucas Oil / NitroFish.com dragster break at half-track, slowing him to a 6.59 at 125.39 mph.

“The long odds got the best of us this year,” said Kalivoda, who two weeks ago figured he would be a spectator at this year’s event. “I was very fortunate just be racing, and I have the great people at Lucas Oil and NitroFish.com to thank for that. But these weren’t the results we were looking for.”

“I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who worked so hard at the very last minute to put this program together, including the folks at Mac Tools, 1320 Diecast, Vectors Plus, and CruZin’ Magazine,” said Kalivoda. “We’re down, but not out. We’ll get ’em next time.”
 

 
Kalivoda to Drive Lucas Oil / NitroFish.com Top Fueler in Seattle

July 23, 2003 – Seattle native Brady Kalivoda will drive the Lucas Oil / NitroFish.com Top Fuel dragster this weekend at the 16th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.

“To say I’m excited about the opportunity to compete again in Seattle would be an understatement,” said Kalivoda. “I can’t thank Forrest Lucas, everyone else at Lucas Oil, and the great people at NitroFish.com enough for making this possible.”

Kalivoda is understandably partial to his home track. The second-generation driver made his Top Fuel debut at Pacific Raceways at the 2001 NHRA Northwest Nationals. A year later Kalivoda returned to post a quarter-final finish, notching his first professional round win in front of the hometown crowd.

“We are excited to have Brady as part of our team,” said Shaunna Gilmore, Director of Marketing for Lucas Oil Products. “He is a hometown favorite in Seattle and we know he will represent Lucas Oil well. We are trying to increase awareness of our product in the Northwest and with our partnership with Brady and NHRA we will be able to accomplish that.”

“The folks at Lucas Oil have been great supporters of mine for a while and I had the chance to meet and really get to know a lot of the Lucas Oil staff at last year’s Seattle event, which they sponsored” said Kalivoda. “I was hoping it was just the beginning of a great relationship and it was. By helping me put this program together for this year’s race, Lucas has gone above and beyond in demonstrating their belief in my efforts. The great people at NitroFish.com have put an exclamation point on the deal by lending their support as well. The best way for me to show my appreciation is to go out there and do the best job I can for all of my sponsors. Hopefully I can make them proud.”

Kalivoda will have additional support from Mac Tools, CruZin’ Magazine, and 1320 Diecast for the event.