In one of the most surprising moves of the 2018 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Kalitta Motorsports announced it has parted ways with long-time crew chief and company executive Jim Oberhofer.
Team Kalitta owner Connie Kalitta made the announcement in a media release.
What makes the news all the more surprising is its timing: the NHRA just began its six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs this past weekend at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania.
Now with five races remaining in the playoffs, Troy Fasching will replace Oberhofer as crew chief on Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.
Doug Kalitta is currently ranked sixth in the Top Fuel standings, 116 points behind series leader Steve Torrence, heading into this weekend’s second playoff race at Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis,
Oberhofer had served with Kalitta Motorsports for more than 30 years and had held a variety of positions, including Vice President of Operations, as well as most recently as Doug Kalitta’s crew chief.
“I want to thank Jim for his years at Kalitta Motorsports and appreciate everything he accomplished here. I wish him the best in the future,” Connie Kalitta said in a statement.