Scott Kalita Dies in racing accident

[ProdigyCustoms]

Dies in a top end explosion and crash into the catch fence.

This really stings. I am a huge drag racing nut. I have been lucky to be able to build Hot Rods with my son, But truth be known my real dream would be to drag race the circuit father and son as Connie and Scott did.


Connie and Scott were able to live their dream. I guess he went doing what he loves, but his dad, wife and kids must be crushed right now.

RIP Scotty

[fesler]

A very sad day for the drag racing world he was a legend in his own right and will be very missed. Our hearts go out to his family in this tough time.

here is a link on the story
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25306329/

[quadfather]

it,s a sad day . i was there yesterday to see the first round of qualifying. and when i turned on the tv today to watch the last session i heard the news. after watching the crash . it looks as though he may not have been consious after the explosion, as it seemed there was no effort to slow the car. but that's just speculation. my heart goes out to his family and freinds.

[Ricochet]

Much like yourself Frank, I'm a huge Drag Racing fan. We know the limits continue to get pushed with these cars but this is starting to get to familiar. It's a sad day in the racing community but even more so for the Kalitta Family. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

RIP Scott.

Brent

[ohcbird]

It's been a rough year for the Kalittas- one of their 747 cargo planes' landing gear collapsed, and now Scott dies. Wow. Not to sound insensitive, but at least he was doing something most men (and women) can only dream about.

My condolences to the Kalitta family.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Quadfather, my thoughts exactly. Looks like to me the explosion at minimum knocked him out. Like you I see no attempt to slow the car.

[nvr2fst]

Thanks for sharing this Frank. My passion has always been the drag racing scene in my younger years and I follow it closely to this day. My heart goes out to Scott's family and friends. He strived hard to get his reputation, despite pushing the limits at all times which is what this sport is known for.
Dave

[Stuart Adams]

That really sucks. Man o man, did they cancel the race?

[ProdigyCustoms]

No, they will all be racing tomorrow I suppose with a heavy heart. I would expect the rest of Scotts team to sit out?

[Bowtieracing]

That really sucks. Man o man, did they cancel the race?

Money talks-show must go on :(

Sad day indeed.

[Speedster]

Such a tragic event that makes you feel for the Kalitta family and the drag racing fraternity as a whole. I know quite a few professional racers and things like this make you question what you are doing. But Scott checked out doing what he loved. RIP.

[Moose]

i hate to post to such a tragedy.. But there is a link on youtube and shows he trys to get the chutes out, but they dont open up..

Englishtown has a very short stopping area IMO.. I would trap 126-130 and would have to go to the end to stop in my 4th gen bird..

I think they need to come up with a different safety catch for tracks with shorter stopping areas.. Not sure what, but this is just horrible..


Before viewing the the link, keep in mind, that someone dies in this video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DziJdGwFQjU

[monza]

Hard to watch that link and not get emotional, so nasty... RIP.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Actually he had pulled the laundry well before the explosion. The explosion was in the traps probably at 1400 feet. They pull the shoots at about 1000 / 1100 feet since their moving 450 feet per second at that point on the track and the shoots take some time to deploy. They have brakes to, you just have to think he was not able to use them.

I do not want to see the video again!

Since almost all the engine explosions take place at the end of the track, I look for them to either shorten the track, or again take away more nitro. They have been down to 90% nitro for some years now. Maybe were ready for 85%, or a 1000 foot track which has been discussed many times. At least for funny car and top fuel.

Regardless of weather they shorten the track or not I still think they need to take away some nitro. the engines are just bombs waiting for a place to explode, and thir have been too many sensational explosions this year, most on the big end of the track. It will save the teams some money on fuel and parts, cut down oil downs and accidents, and lets face it, they are running 270 at the 660' mark, as fans, we could not tell the difference between a 330 MPH and a 300 MPH run.

JMO.

[Musclerodz]

I too would look for a change to come soon. Sad it takes a tragedy for something to happen.

[Joel145]

My heart goes out to the Kalitta family. I have to say that Robert Hight is a true gentleman. The way he took that pass was true sportmanship, honor and class. Got me all choked up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvcu9ne9zMI

[Van B]

Actually he had pulled the laundry well before the explosion. The explosion was in the traps probably at 1400 feet. They pull the shoots at about 1000 / 1100 feet since their moving 450 feet per second at that point on the track and the shoots take some time to deploy. They have brakes to, you just have to think he was not able to use them.

I do not want to see the video again!

Since almost all the engine explosions take place at the end of the track, I look for them to either shorten the track, or again take away more nitro. They have been down to 90% nitro for some years now. Maybe were ready for 85%, or a 1000 foot track which has been discussed many times. At least for funny car and top fuel.

Regardless of weather they shorten the track or not I still think they need to take away some nitro. the engines are just bombs waiting for a place to explode, and thir have been too many sensational explosions this year, most on the big end of the track. It will save the teams some money on fuel and parts, cut down oil downs and accidents, and lets face it, they are running 270 at the 660' mark, as fans, we could not tell the difference between a 330 MPH and a 300 MPH run.

JMO.

Seems like the chutes might have been pulled when the body blew off. If they would have opened completely I wonder what might have happened.

Also, if you remember, they just raised the limit on nitro last year from 85% to 90%. Crew chiefs said more nitro was actually easier on parts.

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/24145.htm

[Deeznuts]

Actually the chute packs are mounted on the body. So when the body blew up and came off of the chassis, the chutes deployed. I would imagine Scott was knocked out, I never saw him on the brakes at all. The problem here was a concrete pole and a concrete barrier that he hit pretty much head on. The shut down area is short and the sand trap was useless in this case. The NHRA needs to step up now and take a look at some of these tracks. He should have had a better chance at making it through this then what he had. It's just a shame that it takes the loss of a man to bring these safety issues to light. RIP Scott

[G-Body]

Actually the chute packs are mounted on the body. So when the body blew up and came off of the chassis, the chutes deployed. I would imagine Scott was knocked out, I never saw him on the brakes at all. The problem here was a concrete pole and a concrete barrier that he hit pretty much head on. The shut down area is short and the sand trap was useless in this case. The NHRA needs to step up now and take a look at some of these tracks. He should have had a better chance at making it through this then what he had. It's just a shame that it takes the loss of a man to bring these safety issues to light. RIP Scott

Well put!

[ProTouring442]

Actually the chute packs are mounted on the body. So when the body blew up and came off of the chassis, the chutes deployed. I would imagine Scott was knocked out, I never saw him on the brakes at all. The problem here was a concrete pole and a concrete barrier that he hit pretty much head on. The shut down area is short and the sand trap was useless in this case. The NHRA needs to step up now and take a look at some of these tracks. He should have had a better chance at making it through this then what he had. It's just a shame that it takes the loss of a man to bring these safety issues to light. RIP Scott

The good thing is, in the case of NHRA they will look into it and they will make rules changes very quickly.

My prayers go out to his family.

Bill

[HRBS]

Etown is my home track. We run there every Sunday. The shut down is not as long as others but it is not as short as others either. In fact many teams have made it down and slowed without incident. It’s a well designed track. With that said, this is drag racing... the object is to get from point A to point B quicker than your opponent. If they shorten the track (competition distance), then you'll just have crew chiefs reinventing the wheel to get their cars to 330 at the 1000ft mark.... and so on. It’s a tragic loss, no doubt. Scott has been involved in racing since he was in diapers.
But my take is, the explosion probably knocked him out with his foot on the throttle and the body tearing is what caused the chutes to deploy. Unfortunely the car was engulfed in flames and incinerated the chutes and at that point he was on a guided missile. At that speed, nothing would have prevented the horrific disaster that we all saw. It’s unfortunate but in this case with all the particulars of this crash, I don’t think it could have been prevented. I believe there is no blame. Just a horrible loss.
He was a huge part of drag racing history and will be missed.

[DOOM]

Etown is my home track. We run there every Sunday. The shut down is not as long as others but it is not as short as others either. In fact many teams have made it down and slowed without incident. It’s a well designed track. With that said, this is drag racing... the object is to get from point A to point B quicker than your opponent. If they shorten the track (competition distance), then you'll just have crew chiefs reinventing the wheel to get their cars to 330 at the 1000ft mark.... and so on. It’s a tragic loss, no doubt. Scott has been involved in racing since he was in diapers.
But my take is, the explosion probably knocked him out with his foot on the throttle and the body tearing is what caused the chutes to deploy. Unfortunely the car was engulfed in flames and incinerated the chutes and at that point he was on a guided missile. At that speed, nothing would have prevented the horrific disaster that we all saw. It’s unfortunate but in this case with all the particulars of this crash, I don’t think it could have been prevented. I believe there is no blame. Just a horrible loss.
He was a huge part of drag racing history and will be missed.
Well said...

[comp-spec]

Etown is my home track. We run there every Sunday. The shut down is not as long as others but it is not as short as others either. In fact many teams have made it down and slowed without incident. It’s a well designed track. With that said, this is drag racing... the object is to get from point A to point B quicker than your opponent. If they shorten the track (competition distance), then you'll just have crew chiefs reinventing the wheel to get their cars to 330 at the 1000ft mark.... and so on. It’s a tragic loss, no doubt. Scott has been involved in racing since he was in diapers.
But my take is, the explosion probably knocked him out with his foot on the throttle and the body tearing is what caused the chutes to deploy. Unfortunely the car was engulfed in flames and incinerated the chutes and at that point he was on a guided missile. At that speed, nothing would have prevented the horrific disaster that we all saw. It’s unfortunate but in this case with all the particulars of this crash, I don’t think it could have been prevented. I believe there is no blame. Just a horrible loss.
He was a huge part of drag racing history and will be missed.

RIP Scott

[domo69]

God bless you Scott and prayers for all of your family and friends! Run'em hard upstairs!