36 responses so far ↓

• 1 David Gorham // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:20 am

  Such a tragedy. Why did not the parachute slow down the car? Should the track be perhaps longer and should their be a soft impact collision barack at the end of the track just in case the driver is perhaps incoherent due to an immediate burst of flames?

• 2 Champ // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:42 am

  Any time some one loses their life it hurts, having said that, he died doing what he loved !!! Hopefully the powers that be in NHRA add some more real estate in the shut down area so at least the driver has a chance and I know Connie has the juice along with Force and Bernstein to make that happen. Thoughts and Prayers to the Kalitta family.

• 3 eddie tucker // Jun 22, 2008 at 1:42 pm

  My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalitta Family. NHRA is still the best.

• 4 alancameron // Jun 22, 2008 at 2:38 pm

  remove that godamn fing wall at the end of the track

• 5 Seth Davis // Jun 22, 2008 at 5:23 pm

  Hey to the Kalitta family. I am really sorry about what happen. I have never really watched top fuel or funny car, But i want to express how much i am praying for the Kalitta family. He died doing what he wanted to do. Now he is living a story of his life in heaven where all of us would like to be. I wanted to let you all know how much i am praying for you all and that We all love you guys. Thank You
  Seth Davis

• 6 Atlanta // Jun 22, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  I just read the newspaper from Detroit, MI. Full details of this event are not yet available, but the Detroit article was helpful. Many independent variables went wrong and contributed to Kallita’s death: He achieved 300 plus mph, before his car caught fire. His chute failed to deploy properly and he hit the end of the track, nearly, at full speed.
  Somehow, he then went airborne and, again, somehow he hit a concrete pillar that supported a safety net beyond the sand trap. My guess is that he hit the sand trap so fast that it caused him to go airborne, and sent his car to the left, or right, hitting the support. He died doing what he did best.

• 7 Josh A. // Jun 22, 2008 at 6:27 pm

  I’m really sorry for all fo his family and wish them strength to carry on. Good riddance.

• 8 Marc Tafarella // Jun 22, 2008 at 7:53 pm

  I have seen many safety improvements to the cars. Scott was engulfed in a fire ball and likely knocked out from the explosion.
  No parachute, no brakes.
  NHRA needs to have a better look on track design with property owners to improve end of track life saving runaway trap area… What a Shame on Track design..
  In Tears, My Heart goes out to the family and friends…

• 9 Dana Thompson // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:39 pm

  I’m a big race fan of all motorsports. It saddings me to hear what happened to Scott Kalitta . My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Scott will be deeply missed .

• 10 leadfoot4 // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:49 pm

  I’ve been a fan of automobile racing all of my life, as well as an occasional participant of oval track racing. I find it very tragic whenever someone dies on the track.

  Something that I find ironic, is when someone, as several have done, makes the comment, “Why don’t they get that $$##**! wall out of there. Do you really think that the NHRA wants that wall there??? Englishtown Raceway, as well as many other race tracks across the US, is being crunched by land developers, consequently that concrete wall is in place. That wall prevents errant race cars from crossing a public highway.

  Yes, it is very unfortunate, that Englishtown, as a number other tracks ,were out in the middle of nowhere up until a few years ago. People moved out of the urban areas, in order to get into the “country”. However, the racetracks were already was there, not the other way around. But once those people moved there, they expected to be able to “tame the land” and close the track. So far, they haven’t closed the track, but new public roads, and the means to protect those roads, are what possibly cost Scott Kalitta his life. May he rest in peace.

  Maybe, we should be saying, “Get those %%^$##! residents out of there….The race track was there long before they were….and, it’s a large part of the East Coast’s racing history.

• 11 Cooper // Jun 23, 2008 at 1:09 am

  If you look carefully, you’ll see the ‘chutes have been triggered [although quite late], but they don’t deploy properly. That just leaves the [rear wheels only] brakes. And that’s game over, folks.
  Frankly, I don’t think you could get a high tech Formula 1 car stopped from that speed in that distance, let alone a F/C.
  I suspect the throttle may have jammed open, as the car doesn’t appear to slow down after going through the traps.

  Remove the wall? Then you’d be in the tree’s - with equally bad results. Trouble is that these tracks are from an era when 230 mph was fast, not the 330 of today.
  Perhaps the big styrofoam blocks, like they use on road racing tracks, might be a solution.

  Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time to slow the cars down via the rule book. Knock 50 or 60 mph off the speeds of the Funny’s & Fuelers. 275 mph isn’t exactly slow, and the racing will still be exciting. Indy cars, F1 and Nascar have had to do it, and they’re still good shows.

• 12 Atlanta // Jun 23, 2008 at 1:32 am

  The car’s dual parachutes did not properly blossom, and observers at the end of the track where Kalitta crashed estimate he was traveling at more that 250 mph when he skimmed over a sand-trap, through a catch net and into a concrete wall. The massive impact launched his car into an overhead camera boom before it landed in a forested area. He died doing what he did best.

• 13 A58love // Jun 23, 2008 at 3:09 am

  My condolences and prayers go out to the family of Scott. Everyone has said he passed while doing something he loved, but that doesnt make the fact that a man lost his life any easier. I have been a fan of drag racing for over 40 yaears remembering the days of the Bounty Hunter, The Snake and guys like Sox and Martin. The problem today is these men are still racing on tracks designed for 200 MPH, and they are traveling at far greater speed than that. They should make all tracks lengthen their shut down areas, remove any walls or post that may be there and even maybe consider shortening the track to 1000 ft. Once again God bless all of the Kalitta family, Scotts wife and chidren, and may he give them the strength and guidance to come to terms with this horrific accident.

• 14 Ontario, Canada // Jun 23, 2008 at 3:27 am

  Thank You for the many years of racing enjoyment. You will be greatly missed.
  Tina

• 15 kenny // Jun 23, 2008 at 3:59 am

  what then he runs into a wall !?!?!?! what the hell is a wall doing there ??? all motor racing has reasonably safe runoff now,why would they even race here ??

• 16 kenny // Jun 23, 2008 at 4:02 am

  i mean c’mon you could have a big ass catch net but not a wall,effin hell a third grader could figure that out

• 17 Sid Smith // Jun 23, 2008 at 4:31 am

  My heartfelt and deepest sympathy to Connie and the Kalitta family. Perhaps and hopefully from this tragedy may come increased safety awareness and arrangements.

• 18 Tbucket // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:41 am

  My deepest sympathy goes out to Connie ,Scotts wife and children . Scott will deeply be missed through out the drag racing family.

• 19 Bob Lowden // Jun 23, 2008 at 8:32 am

  Our hindsight is always 20/20. It happened. Its over. Scott is gone and will be greatly missed. What a great life he had! There was little chance Scott would have survived even without the final impact. We watched the run, horrified & stunned. My wife & I cried. Our blessings go out to Scott, his wife, and kids, and Dad Connie. Lets try to celebrate Scotts’s life and remember him in our hearts and minds. Scott has pulled into the final staging lane. So long Scott. Thanks for the memories.

• 20 ONE EYED DRIFTER // Jun 23, 2008 at 2:59 pm

  It is most obvious, the shut down area must be longer, adding catch devises to slow down a dragster, if they can do it on an air craft carrier, why not at a drag strip. this car was in control and never lost it’s lane. the sudden stop was fatal.

• 21 Randy // Jun 23, 2008 at 4:27 pm

  I hope this horrific video can be used to make drag racing less dangerous. Looks like the track, the chute, the fire suppression system, and other areas need improvements for safety.

• 22 RGeorge // Jun 23, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  I heard there was a “concrete” retaining wall at the end of the track where the car impacted at approx 300MPH…. That in itself is unbelievable..! Some quick ideas…Possibly the use of multiple layers, of well constructed, and fire retardent (netting) to “catch” a car in the event of an emergency that would safely stop the vehicle in a relatively short distance once the car has gone beyond that certain threshold… Other options would possibly be a “hook” and grappling system (used in Aircraft Carriers) to catch, and stop the car as it does for fighter jets..? Although Funny Cars, dragsters may be too low to the ground for such a system..? Just my two cents worth…

  My sincere condolences go out to the Kalitta Family… Rest in Peace Scott…

• 23 Les Nichols // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:15 pm

  I used to go to the drags quite a bit in the past and it is always heart wrenching to see a car explode into flames. I have seen many cars explode in my years attending live races, and yes it is one of the most dangerous sports you can participate in, everyone knows the danger…..its sad to think we have lost 2 drivers in the last 2 years, that is way too many. Hopefully the powers that be can make some safety changes to prevent this from happening in the future. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalitta family.

• 24 John // Jun 23, 2008 at 6:31 pm

  I was shocked to hear of the accident and had to see what happened. I can’t believe there is a concrete retaining wall at the end of the track. This is crazy. Where is the safety in this? How many times have we seen one of the cars having issues that were not able to stop at the end of the track? Why must we lesson learned with a death for this when we have seen cars that were not able to stop. I hope NOW that something will be done at the back of the track to help keep the driver safe when not able to stop.

  I have always enjoyed watching Scott and other members of the Kalitta family racing over the years. My sincere condolences to the Kalitta Family…

• 25 jbfan0880 // Jun 23, 2008 at 9:28 pm

  First of all, I’d also like to offer my sincerest condolences to Connie and the entire Kalitta Motorsports team and to Scott’s wife and sons, Kathy, Corey and Colin. Scott was a straight shooter and definitely one of the best driver’s the sport has ever had.

  Secondly, I’d like to address a few mis-conceptions noted above. Leadfoot4 is correct in explaining why many facilities have a barrier wall at the end of the track - i.e., to protect traffic on public highways. In this case the wall separated the track from woods. And there IS a catch net which is in between the wall and a large sand trap. What shouldn’t have been there was a large camera boom, which was later removed for race day.

  The chutes normally deploy when the body is blown off the car. This appeared to happen only partially and one chute may have burned off. Obviously there was a malfunction.

  It is very likely Scott was knocked unconscious when the motor exploded just before the finish line, for there was no apparent effort to brake the car. He’s too good of a driver not to get on the brakes. The throttle didn’t stick because the car was scrubbing off speed and was no longer “pulling.” If you’ve seen a run live, you know what I mean. Scott was going just over 300 mph at the finish line, so he was probably going anywhere between 200 to 250 mph when he entered the sand trap.

  I’ve seen countless cars go into the sand and a few that were going fast enough that they flipped over front to back. I’ve never seen a car go that fast into the trap. At that speed, Scott’s car likely went end over end through the entire sand trap and over or through the net. It’s my understanding the car then hit the wall and went over the wall and ended up in the woods. Bottom line is I don’t think anything could have stopped to prevent his death.

  As I said, I’ve seen many cars go into the sand. Pomona, where I go to see the first and last races of the year has one of the shortest shutdown areas on the circuit. But, I’ve never seen anything like that. I don’t think a longer shutdown area would have helped much. He was really hauling.

  Perhaps the NHRA could look into a better parachute system and/or maybe automated brakes that engage after so many seconds when a driver is unable to apply them manually. The NHRA is all about safety, but let’s face it… it’s a dangerous sport. The drivers know it and accept it. They’re a different breed of people then most.

  God speed Scott. We’ll miss your competitive spirit.

• 26 Joyce and LLoyd // Jun 24, 2008 at 1:12 am

  I just wanted to tell the Kalitta family that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

  Lloyd and Joyce

• 27 bill wunsch // Jun 24, 2008 at 1:54 am

  what about the Jolly Rancher candy he had in his pocket?

• 28 Paul Toulotte // Jun 24, 2008 at 7:33 am

  I am a racing fan from the mid-60’s where I grew up listening to the sounds of fuelers running at Capitol Raceway in Crofton, MD. Over the years I’ve seen many great events take place in the world of Drag Racing.
  Unfortunately, I’ve also seen many tragedies.
  Scott Kalitta lost his life doing what he loved, there’s no question about that. But the big question looms: Why?
  I think Jim Head said it the best in his ESPN2 interview. It’s time that there was some serious consideration given to reducing the racing distance to 1000′ or even to 1/8 mile. The kinetic energy needed to stop a car, any car, from 300+ mph is more then 4 times as much as needed to stop the same car from 200mph. Yet most of the tracks in business today were built in the mid to late 60’s, when the 300mph barrier was a pipe dream. Walls and barriers are not a solution, runoout area is the only viable (and safe) choice.
  One other factor to consider- more than 80% of engine explosions occur in the last 300 feet of the competitive surface (before the timing lights). Shorten the track, reduce the risk.
  For certain tracks/events (Indy for one) that have sufficient shutoff you can still keep the full quarter mile, for the rest, shorten them before someone else loses their life.
  NHRA, the ball is in your court now.
  We’re all waiting.

  Our prayers are with the entire Kalitta Racing operation and their families.
  Scott, and all that have passed before him, deserves that much from the NHRA.

• 29 Bud Rossey // Jun 24, 2008 at 1:36 pm

  Scott was a great compeditor.I wasnt his biggest fan but appreciated what he did.It takes a special BREED of person to drive one of those things.My Favorite driver of aLL times was the LATE NEIL BONNETT who was also killed doing what he loved.So what can you say.My heart goes out to the entire Kalitta family. SINCERELY,BUD@theresa77235

• 30 Terry // Jun 24, 2008 at 3:15 pm

  in Scott’s case there is no shut down long enought…it’s racing ..goes with the sport…I hate it but it’s going to happen sorry for the family..

• 31 Cooper // Jun 24, 2008 at 10:57 pm

  Reducing the track length from 1320 feet would indeed slow the cars down. But it would also throw out over 50 years of tradition. The 1/4 mile has been the benchmark. And what about the slower classes? Would they be forced to run a shorter track too?
  No, slow the cars down. Reduce the boost or lower the nitro load to 50%. That would still give you the sound and fury, but reduce speeds. A side benefit would be less engine failures, and lower costs.

  The net-barrier idea has much merit. If you can stop a 15 ton aircraft on a carrier, a 1 ton dragster should be easy.

  Remember though, it’s much quicker, easier and cheaper to slow the cars than change the tracks.

• 32 drag racer // Jun 25, 2008 at 12:58 am

  It is a very tragic loss and we feel horrable.Our thougghts and prayers are with Scott’s family.Englishtown does not have a WALL at the run off area,it is a catch net,the car got airborn at the entrance of the sand trap and hit the post for the catch fence and the boom for the ESPN camera.RIP Scott

• 33 Tim Holtzapple // Jun 25, 2008 at 3:22 am

  I couldn’t believe this when I heard this. 2 people dieing in one year is just too much. Both Eric Medlen and now Scott, it was unbearable to hear. Both people I have seen in person, got their autographs, been fans of, I even shook their hands. Its just a horrible tragedy. I wish the best for the Kalitta family.

• 34 Paul Toulotte // Jun 25, 2008 at 8:39 am

  I have to add a couple of comments on barriers, traditions, etc.
  First- barriers. Yes, it’s true that they use barriers to stop 15 ton aircraft with minimal damage. The thing is, the planes weigh 30,000 pounds and are constructed mostly of metal. A typical funny car tips the scales at, what, 2500, 2600 pounds (with driver) and is constructed of carbon fiber with a steel cage. There is a vast and distinctive difference between the two modes of transportation.
  Second- foam. While foam is a good idea, what would trigger it, where would it spray and how long would it take to deploy to provide a cushion? An automated system would take years to perfect, if it is even possible, and humans don’t have quick enough reaction times to decide whether a car is sufficiently in trouble enough to warrant deployment5, and the subsequent clean-up.
  Third- tradition. You’re right, Drag Racing enjoys a long and distinctive place in our culture. But look at what we started with and where we’ve gotten to. If you’re crying tradition we’ll have to do away with rear engine dragsters, funny cars, most of the classes in place today, most of the powertrains in use today, safety equipment, the list is endless. Sorry, but ‘tradition’ doesn’t cut any ice.
  Last- change the cars. Good idea, for a little while. But racers will be racers and they will find a way to go faster, no matter what. ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits didn’t let a blower explosion that nearly killed him and cost him parts of his body stop him from designing the first practical rear engined dragster. The same design that is in place almost 40 years later. Nitro percentages were reduced to 90% a few years ago. Did the cars slow down? Only temporarily. Tire sizes were reduced before that. Slow down? For a short while. The only thing that will work is to reduce the track lengths or to construct new tracks with sufficient runout that there will never be another issue like this. To try to lengthen most of the current racing surfaces will not work because of the development in the general area of the tracks. The land simply isn’t available anymore.
  And if you’re worried about how much it costs to change the tracks, how expensive is it to move the lights and repaint the finish line stripes. Probably a lot less costly than redesigning blowers or fuel system or any other vehicular modifications.
  Let’s asterisk * the 2008 season as the last of the 1/4 mile era and move on to safer surfaces.

• 35 tisimth // Jun 25, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  First want to say .. my thoughts and prayers are with the Kalitta family. I hate that this has occured… anything we can do to prevent this from ever happening again should be done. The respect and love poured out by the racers and fans a like is a real tribute to the human spirit.

  With that said.. I would be behind any decision that the racers and NHRA can come up with to make the sport safer. They are the ones that are putting their lives on the line and should have the final say. They have the experience, knowledge and the data to make the best decisions.

  I would just put my thoughts about shortening the track… shorten the track for safety fine.. but shorten the track so that we can continue to use facilities that were built and designed in the 50’s & 60’s seems silly. Look around at other sports.. new football stadiums are being built and the old ones torn down. I say modernize the facilities to meet the standards of today. Why stay mired in the old technology.. let the old facilities handle/support the lower classes of racing.. sportsman, NMRA, FFW.. chevy equivilances. If football/baseball/hockey.. heck just about every other sport can update thier venues.. why can’t the sport that we love do the same thing.

  In the end though.. I would say.. let those who put thier lives on the line make the decisions… and we can just enjoy the fruits of what they do..

  God bless and take care of Scott.. and look over his family until they can all be together again.

• 36 leadfoot4 // Jun 26, 2008 at 12:14 am

  Quote: “Second- foam. While foam is a good idea, what would trigger it, where would it spray and how long would it take to deploy to provide a cushion? An automated system would take years to perfect, if it is even possible, and humans don’t have quick enough reaction times to decide whether a car is sufficiently in trouble enough to warrant deployment5, and the subsequent clean-up.”

  Paul…I think you’re not clear on this point. “Foam”, as used in a racing impact absorption function, is “styrofoam” in large blocks, used to absorb impact. Many oval tracks have placed foam blocks around their outer walls, as sort of a “SAFER” barrier. In a drag strip application, foam blocks would be at the VERY END of the shutdown/sand trap, whetever, as a LAST RESORT to stop an errant car.

  Quote: “I would just put my thoughts about shortening the track… shorten the track for safety fine.. but shorten the track so that we can continue to use facilities that were built and designed in the 50’s & 60’s seems silly. Look around at other sports.. new football stadiums are being built and the old ones torn down. I say modernize the facilities to meet the standards of today. Why stay mired in the old technology.. let the old facilities handle/support the lower classes of racing.. sportsman, NMRA, FFW.. Chevy equivilances. If football/baseball/hockey.. heck just about every other sport can update thier venues.. why can’t the sport that we love do the same thing.”

  TI, while agree with your logic, you have to remember that automobile racing, in any form, is still the “red-headed stepchild” among amateur and professional sports. Municipalities will spend MILLIONS in both cash and tax breaks for sports arenas and ball parks, but the only thing they do for us “gearheads” is try to legislate motorsports facilities out of existence.

  Although I was actually born about 30 miles north of Englishtown, I’ve spent 90% of my 56 years living in western New York. When I came here, there were two oval tracks in the area, one dirt and one asphalt, one privately owned, one part of the county fairgrounds. The dirt track at the fairgrounds was in existence from the mid 1930s until the late 60s, when the population shifted to the “suburbs”, and the first wave of “suburban squatters” built brand new homes right across the street from the track. Suddenly, the track became a public nuisance, and one of the finest dirt tracks in the east was shut down.

  The paved oval was originally constructed in the mid 1950s, and was “out in the sticks”. Strangely enough, that area didn’t see a swelling in population during the boom of the 60s, but in the last 3-5 years a few people moved out there, seeking “rural charm”, as well as “peace and quiet”. That’s right, they moved within a couple miles of a motorsports facility, wanting peace and quiet…and they’re suing the town in order to get restrictions placed on the track’s operation…..And as stupid as it sounds, they’re making inroads, little by little.

  As I said, I agree with you. BUT, motorsports simply isn’t able to shed its “greasy fingernail” image, no matter how many people become fans. Therefore, sadly, the public funding or public tolerance of racing facilities just isn’t going to see light of day.

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