“We felt like we let the win in Houston slip through our fingers last year,” Grubnic, a 45-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Our car was certainly one of the best there last year, but we just barely missed a chance at getting the win (Grubnic was defeated by Joe Hartley, 4.661 seconds, 307.72 mph to 4.623 sec., 316.15 mph, in the semifinals).

Last year at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Tex., just east of Houston, native Australian Dave Grubnic, driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, made a semi-final showing in the Lone Star state.

“We felt like we let the win in Houston slip through our fingers last year,” Grubnic, a 45-year old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Our car was certainly one of the best there last year, but we just barely missed a chance at getting the win (Grubnic was defeated by Joe Hartley, 4.661 seconds, 307.72 mph to 4.623 sec., 316.15 mph, in the semifinals).

“We feel great about our chances again this year. Connie (Kalitta, team owner and crew chief) and our team have the Kalitta Motorsports dragster running great so far this season. We’ve already been to a final (Phoenix), and we know we have a car that can go out and win at any time. I’m looking forward to getting back on the track at Houston, hopefully for one more lap this year.”

Grubnic is currently in 5th place (tie) in 2008 POWERade Top Fuel championship points.

In early 2004, Grubnic was hired to drive for legendary team owner Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and Kalitta Motorsports. In the fall of ‘04, Grubnic won the lucrative and coveted Budweiser Shootout in Las Vegas, becoming only the fourth driver in the special event's history to win its $100,000 prize in his first attempt. Grubnic picked up an emotional first NHRA national event win in May, 2005 in Topeka, Kans., to become the first non-native North American to win a Top Fuel trophy.