Memphis: Hillary Will Saturday notes

Will aims for Memphis title; Starts No. 15

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (September 15, 2007) -- Hillary Will, who drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed "Support our Troops and Families" dragster, begins her quest for the Top Fuel title at the 20th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals from the No. 15 position.

A review of qualifying notes for Will finds the following:

In the opening session of qualifying, Will laid down a good base elapsed time (4.694 seconds). The Friday evening session saw Will shutting off early and coasting through the finish line lights at 4.983 seconds at a slowing 214.83 mph. She ended the first day of qualifying in the No. 14 position.

In Saturday's first qualifying session, third overall, Will ran her best elapsed time of the weekend thus far, a 4.648-second pass. The Northern California native, who now lives in Ypsilanti, Mich., near the shop of Kalitta Motorsports, lost one position and headed into the final qualifying session in 15th position.

In the final session, Will was unable to improve her elapsed time as she smoked the tires (lost traction) immediately upon the hit of the throttle. She now turns her attention to tomorrow's eliminations.

Will, who advanced to her first NHRA final round here at Memphis Motorsports Part during eliminations last year, finished in the runner-up position. This year she would like to put her Support our Troops and Families dragster into the winner's circle.

Her route to the winner's circle will start with Brandon Bernstein, who qualified No. 2 with an outstanding pass of 4.566 seconds at 326.71 mph.

-credit: kbr