Using some astounding overall playoffs strategy — Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, is your 2015 NHRA Mello Yello World Champion and winner of the final race of the year: the Auto Club Finals.

He secured the championship by defeating Jack Beckman in the semi-final round of the Auto Club Finals. In a weekend with record-breaking runs, Worsham came out on top, earning Kalitta Motorsports their first Funny Car championship.

This championship makes Worsham the third driver to win a championship in Top Fuel and Funny Car, while delivering Kalitta Motorsports their first title since the late Scott Kalitta won in back-to-back years in 1994 and 1995 in the Top Fuel class.

This was Toyota’s first Funny Car championship since 2008 and only second overall; and with family and friends around, the championship win became very special for Worsham.

“It is an amazing feeling. I have been here before, not that did me any good up there,” said Worsham. “It felt like it was 25 years ago, and I was making my first run. The team has been behind me, regardless of the situation. We are racing for Scott, Connie and the entire Kalitta Motorsports family. My teammates, sponsors, DHL, Toyota, Red Line, thank you for your support. Nicky Boninfante, Jon Oberhofer, Dave Boyer and the entire DHL team, the job they have did has been incredible. They have not made a mistake since September.”

This team means so much to team owner Connie Kalitta, as it was driven by the late Scott Kalitta. “Everytime I get inside this DHL Toyota Camry I see his (Scott Kalitta’s) name. I hop in and think about Scott, and his sons: Colin and Corey,” said Worsham.

Worsham was stout throughout qualifying. He earned two bonus points and started third. The DHL team was able to pick up round wins over former champions Tony Pedregon and Robert Hight securing the crucial matchup in the semi-finals with Beckman. 
The winner of the pairing would win the championship. Beckman and Worsham were the class of the field the entire Countdown and that followed in the Auto Club Finals.

They left side-by-side, but Beckman had to pedal, while the DHL Toyota Camry was true down the track. His 3.92 second run was more than enough to beat Beckman’s 4.088 giving the title to Worsham.

However, the DHL Yella Fellas did not settle. Worsham ran a 3.908 to defeat Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round to earn his fourth win on the season.

That completed what truly was a storybook season for Worsham and the entire DHL team!

Posted by Cody Poor

(Jack Beckman rewrote the NHRA National ET record to an astounding 3.884 secs – but fell just short of the ’15 World Championship)

Event Essentials:   NHRA AAA Auto Club Finals (Nov. 12-15th, 2015) 

Photos by Randy Anderson