YPSILANTI, Mich. – Two iconic brands that partner on multiple levels in multiple businesses, DHL and Kalitta Motorsports, signed a multi-year contract extension for J.R. Todd’s DHL GR Supra Funny Car, the team announced today. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 6-8 at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
What started some two decades ago as an agreement to sponsor race cars is now a multi-faceted relationship that enjoys success on and off the racetrack including charitable efforts, business-to-business networking and track-side experiences for DHL customers.
In addition to winning NHRA Funny Car championships with Todd (2018) and Del Worsham (2015), DHL and Team Kalitta partner in the fight against food insecurity. Through “The Race to End Hunger,” DHL, Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air combine forces each season to raise funds equivalent to at least one million meals through Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States.
“For more than 20 years, Kalitta has been a trusted partner, united by a shared commitment to excellence on the racetrack and making a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe and Head of Global Partnerships. “Together, we’ve brought fans and employees closer to the sport while strengthening both our business and community initiatives. This multi-year extension reflects how naturally our brands align, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
As the global leader in international logistics and express shipping services, DHL enjoys a decades-long partnership with Kalitta Air, which transports DHL customers’ shipments around the globe. Its relationship with Kalitta Air led DHL to Kalitta Motorsports in a business-to-business development which can encompass all Kalitta Motorsports corporate partners. Each year, Kalitta Motorsports hosts a business-to-business summit among all its partners in hopes of fostering additional business relationships among the attendees.
“DHL is just a phenomenal partner,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “They are partners in the true sense of the word; the DHL-Kalitta relationship is so much more than a logo on the side of a race car. We collaborate on many levels from entertaining their customers at the racetrack, growing both companies through our business-to-business efforts, our drivers visiting their hubs around the country, or working with Kalitta Air or fighting hunger each fall, DHL is always there, working with us side-by-side. We are proud to consider our friends at DHL part of the Team Kalitta family.”
This story was originally published on February 17, 2026. 
