2-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Scott Kalitta killed in horrific Funny Car crash today

[azbobbybooshay10]

I got a text from my Dad earlier, saying he just saw Scott Kalitta die. When I got home from work, I looked it up online, and I have never seen such a devastating accident in my life.

ESPN - Two-time Top Fuel champ Kalitta killed during SuperNationals qualifying - Racing

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the 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."

Here is the video of the accident.

YouTube - Scott Kalitta Fatal Crash Full Coverage Part 1

[Bergie_dark by design]

R.I.P






He went out doing wat he loved...





" I cant help but just cringe when the collison happens"

[bdiddy]

wow............



RIP man.................


unbelievable....................................

[MOMO]

Wow... RIP.

they have solid barrier at the end of the runoff?

[Bergie_dark by design]

usually its a barrier or forest...

that run off is like an extra 1/2 down.

[JScullin]

Good lord. When I saw it burst into flames I thought it odd to die from that due to the flame suit. But then when he hit that wall.....jesus.

Do they say why there is a wall there? As stated, a lot of tracks have sand or just open field at the end.

[Topik]

i have no words to describe that.

RIP

[azbobbybooshay10]

Originally Posted by JScullin

Good lord. When I saw it burst into flames I thought it odd to die from that due to the flame suit. But then when he hit that wall.....jesus.

Do they say why there is a wall there? As stated, a lot of tracks have sand or just open field at the end.

There is a public road just beyond the end of the track. I would suggest they bury the road and make a tunnel under that area to extent the runoff or something. Apparently they already shut down that road during the Fuel events (and thankfully so after the accident yesterday, I'm not sure how far the debris of the car went), but they need to do something else.

Something else to consider. The runoff IS at least half a mile long, it has to be to be NHRA sanctioned. But when you're going over 300mph, you cover a half a mile VERY fast. If they need more runoff, how much is enough for a car doing 300mph with an unconscious driver? As much as we'd like to say they need more runoff, you could have a mile-long runoff area and that car would not have slowed down very much.

[jaged]

but when the runoff it paved the car keeps moving. when it is sand, a car that sits a half inch off the ground stops pretty quick.

[azbobbybooshay10]

Originally Posted by jaged

but when the runoff it paved the car keeps moving. when it is sand, a car that sits a half inch off the ground stops pretty quick.

Apparently in Scott's case, when he hit the sand, it actually launched the car into the air and cleared the net. I think I also saw a report that he didn't directly hit the wall, that he cleared it and that it was the TV stand that he hit that made the car explode the 2nd time. If he hadn't hit that, he would have hit the forest of trees right behind that.