Prayers for the Kalitta Family

[ndvalium]

Sending thoughts and prayers to the Kalitta Family at the NHRA event.

All anyone is saying so far is Scott Kalitta was involved in a serious accident at the event today during qualifing. His vehicle exploded and hit the shut down area at high speed. He is at the hospital and no announcements have been made yet by the team or NHRA.

Lets pray it comes out ok.

[ndvalium]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/driver_killed_in_crash_at_old.html

God-Speed Scott.

[J_Edgar]

Espn just annouced that it was being reported by the AP that he was killed. Prayers go out to the family.

[RGFan]

How tragic.....God Speed to Scott Kalitta and our deepest condolences to his family.......Is it just me or has this been happening way to many times lately....To many deaths and serious accidents over the past year -two years in NHRA

[Mike @ pit b]

It's a damn shame. My condolences..............

[AzBajaman]

Prayers go out to the Kalitta Family


God speed Scott

[bpthirteen]

NHRA's Scott Kalitta killed in crash


Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta — the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car — was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.

Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.

The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.

"We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family," the NHRA said in a statement. "Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community."

Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.

Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.

One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta's last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.

He's survived by his father, wife Kathy and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski — a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta's hometown of Mount Clemens — learned the news from a television report.

"That really hits close to home," Keselowski said after winning the pole position for Saturday night's race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. "(He was) a friend of my family's, and I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That's tough to hear."

Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.

[DailyPedal]

ESPN showed the crash, respectfully from only one angle, and it was incredible. Scott may have been injured and/or unconscious after the initial motor explosion mid track blew the body off. The throttle appeared to be stuck and the car continued at speed and on fire through the traps and into the catchfence where it exploded again in a huge fireball. My prayers go out to the family and friends of Scott.

[lowdownndirty]

sad day for sure.............


YouTube - Scott Kalitta Accident

[Combo]

Very Sad! A Very Sad Day..........

Was there someone in that lift for the camera at the shut off area at the end or is it robotic?

[pjc]

God speed!

Drag racing is an awesome technical sport and it just lost a legend.

[cvc motorsports]

Horrible news! Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Scott. RIP my friend!

[woundedyak]

ESPN showed the crash, respectfully from only one angle, and it was incredible. Scott may have been injured and/or unconscious after the initial motor explosion mid track blew the body off. The throttle appeared to be stuck and the car continued at speed and on fire through the traps and into the catchfence where it exploded again in a huge fireball. My prayers go out to the family and friends of Scott.

What a bummer!!!!!!!!God speed!
I think when the motor let go,a piece of it hit Scott and put him unconscious. Then.....well,never mind.

[kaw500]

A true gentlemen, the sport will miss him.
Prayers out to his family.

[Superfab]

It was interesting to hear Jim Head's comments this morning on NHRA today. He brought to light many things those in the fuel category have been discussing about the problems with many of the older tracks not having a long enough and safe enough shutdown area. These tracks were built in the 50s and 60s when the speeds were not over 270 mph. There is just no room for problems or errors. I hope they make some more changes to improve safety for the racers before we lose more of them. Having been friends with the Russell family I know how hard it can be to lose some one special to you and think what could we have done to prevent this. Hopefully things will be done sooner than later. My prayers go out to the Kalitta family.

[Ryno]

Godspeed Scott. This is horrible news. FunnyCar keeps losing drivers rather quickly......With a metal time bomb in front of you, trying to tear itself apart, things happen. First Medlen, then Force gets hurt, now Kalitta. It's a damn shame.

[Tristar Racing]

Its sad to see people hurt/killed that I worked with while in the race division at Goodyear. The older tracks have a lot of history, but they lack safety. If that car would have blown up at say Rte 66 speedway in Joliet Illinois, I dont know if this would have been a fatal accident.

[Brandon Johnson]

That was a horrible crash, I don't really follow drag racing but I know if someone asked me if I knew what Scott Kallitta does I could answer in a heartbeat. Very sad and my condolences go out to the whole family and drag racing community

[SandGurl]

Racing has lost one of its finest yet again. Condolences to the Kalitta family and the racing community.

[DailyPedal]

Despite what I said earlier, after watching the video again, it looks to me like Scott may have still been steering the car as it burned through the lights but the chutes were gone when the body exploded and came off. He kept it in the middle of the lane until it hit the trap at the end of the track. The second explosion may have been because the tank is in front of the car and burst when it hit the sand trap and dug in. Or when he hit the concrete barrier after the trap-hard to tell but it looks like it exploded as soon as it hit the trap. They said he died of multiple injuries no doubt compounded by the speed at which he went into the trap.