Kalitta Motorsports Crew Chief Jim Oberhofer Pens New Book

Kalitta Motorsports Crew Chief Jim Oberhofer, known as "Jim O." by thousands of drag racing fans and sports media, tunes up Top Fuel dragsters that burn rubber on many a fast lane across America every season on the National Hot Rod Association circuit.

As with life, there are many wins and many losses. It was the same for Jim O. who endured joys and sorrows in his life and learned from his experiences that victory wasn't always about crossing the finish line. His new book, "Top Fuel for Life: Life Lessons from a Crew Chief," enlightens readers about lessons Oberhofer has learned about being a man, a father and a champion; and shows them how he cut a path to real happiness as a result of his wife Tammy O.'s battle with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer.

He will debut his book at a special launch party at the Annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Saturday, October 17 at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. Oberhofer will also be appearing at the 15th Annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and at the 51st Annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, Calif. From Nov. 12 to Nov. 15.

The 262-page memoir is written in a brash, humorous man's man style. Oberhofer tells it straight up: his personal struggles, the love he rediscovered, and the epiphany that guided him to a positive point in his life. "Top Fuel for Life" is available on Amazon for $19.95. The book features four-color photos of Oberhofer and his family on the back cover and includes people well known in the drag racing world including Connie Kalitta, Scott Kalitta, Jesse James, Cowboy Bob, Alexis DeJoria, Dick LaHaie and the cast of characters from Kalitta Motorsports.

"When you take a long hard look at your life, I guarantee you that being a winner has little to do with crossing the finish line," Jim O. says. "After many mistakes and a whole lot of heartache, I learned that happiness comes from a deeper, simpler place. That's the big win."

About Jim Oberhofer, Crew Chief and Vice President of Operations for Kalitta Motorsports:
Kalitta Motorsports, founded in 1959 by drag racing icon Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta, is one of the most successful professional drag racing teams in NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) history. Oberhofer has been with the team for almost three decades and serves as both Crew Chief for Doug Kalitta's Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster and Vice President of Operations for the Kalitta Motorsports four-car team. He is a second-generation drag racing enthusiast whose father campaigned a Jr. fueler as well as a Top Fuel dragster in the 1960s and 70s. Oberhofer got his first part-time job in drag racing in 1983 when he started cleaning parts for Kalitta Motorsports, which led to a full-time crewmember position with the team in 1988. His brother Jon is also a crew chief for Kalitta Motorsports on the DHL Toyota Funny Car driven by Del Worsham. Oberhofer's daughter Ashley also works for Kalitta Motorsports as the team's Social Media Coordinator.

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