Scott Kalitta
 

Scott was just involved in a horrible accident at etown raceway.

Please refrain from speculation, once there is an official statement. Please respect the Kalitta family and not post speculation until an official statement
Prayers to The Kalittas

GOD SPEED SCOTT



Driver killed in crash at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
by Susan Wade and Jeffery C. Mays/The Star-Ledger Saturday June 21, 2008, 5:59 PM
A driver was killed in a fiery crash during a drag race today at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, state police said.


US PRESSWIRE/Bob Kozel
NHRA funny car driver Scott Kalitta during qualifying for the Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway on June 6.
Witnesses said the driver, Scott Kalitta, was speeding at an estimated 300 mph during the National Hot Rod Association Super Nationals when the engine of his Toyota Solara exploded in a ball of flames.

"The driver was killed after he lost control of his vehicle," said Sgt. Julian Castellanos, a spokesman for the State Police.

He declined to confirm that Kalitta was the victim, saying his family had not yet been notified.

But spectators at the track watched as Kalitta's car exploded, hit a sand trap, then vaulted over a protective catch fence. A slow-moving ambulance took the driver away.

Kalitta, 46, of Palmetto, Fla., was a two-time Top Fuel champion (1994-95) had 18 career victories, 17 of them in the Top Fuel class.


Mark J. Rebilas/US PRESSWIRE
NHRA funny car driver Scott Kalitta during testing at the National Time Trials at Firebird International Raceway on Jan. 29.He began his racing career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982.

His father, Connie Kalitta, the legendary driver/team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," was his co-crew chief, along with Glenn Mikres. Kalitta's cousin, Doug Kalitta, compete sin the Top Fuel class.

Castellanos said that the event was being taped for ESPN, and police will review the tapes to determine what caused the accident.

God Speed ..... :(

God speed. Followed Scott's career a little,but his father Connie was from my era,he was my hero in my younger days. Guess he followed his father to success,very sad it ended this way.Prayers to the Kalitta family.

im in shock, he was a good friend and had many a fun time together back in my Mich days. at Kalitta Flying Service.
Prayers to family !!
R.I.P. Bro !!

Scott Kalitta Dies
 

NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in crash in NJ
51 minutes ago

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car crashed and burst into flames during qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

State police confirmed that the 46-year-old Kalitta, a two-time Top Fuel champion who had 18 career victories, was killed in the accident.

Witnesses told The Star-Ledger of Newark that Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at an estimated speed of 300 mph when the crash occurred.

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.

R.i.p

RIP...Sad News...

Very sad. I followed Scott's career a little because his dad,Connie,was from my era,and he was kind of my hero in my younger days,and Scott followed in his dad's footsteps.Kind of a good thing to do. RIP,Scott. Prayers to the Kalitta family

wow,so sad

Our hearts go out.

RIP

Rip

Sorry to hear the news,R.I.P tripps

Rip

R,i,p

Rip:(

R.I.P., Louie

:mad:RIP

saw the video,he blew up through the lights,got the shoots out,but ran into sand trap and safety net still on fire going real fast.The impact ripped the body off and exploded again,real bad fire.I did hear a cameraman may have been hit by engine parts.Talk about a bad day at the office.R.I.P.

That Sucks :mad: R.I.P.

Ditto, that for me also.

I'm floored! RIP Scott.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DziJdGwFQjU

R.I.P Scott. Prayers out to the whole NHRA community and exspecially Scotts family.

Gotta say WTF also! Why in the world would they have a concrete barrier at the end of the sand trap.:mad:

Richie Zul was at Englishtown today and saw it happen.I talked to him before.What a shame.RIP

OMG !!! :eek: That was terrible. What a loss to the NHRA, and Scott's family and loved ones.

I've never seen a concrete wall at the end of a sand trap. :eek: Why in the he!! was'nt there a safety net there???

So sad.

Word has it that when his car exploded through the traps, the flying debri killed the espn cameraman taping the event.:(

R.i.P. my Bro, many a night at the shop in Ypsilanti at good old Kalitta Flying Service, and other places too..
but man : what a way to go !
doing what we love !!
thats what we always said !!
I saw this at another site and hoped this is what Scotty felt on the last ride
# 10-Bring this combination to the line @ 1000,purge the Nitrous,get ready,think about your comittment and what is getting ready to happen real good, Hit the gas and the juice BAM the tach hits 9500rpm in 1/10 sec. the STV violently leaps forward,torques bad to port,leaves the H2O.Now you have begun the RIDE OF YOUR LIFE.. TRIM UP NOW to your mark, then the ET hooks up,you really think she's going to BLOW over right now but DO NOT LET OFF or it will. If you hold what U got ,suddenly the ET pops the tail at this point. WOW now you are running 100+ in 3 seconds. Look @ EGT it should be @ 1150 now.Things are getting easier now,the bow does the Skywalker walk some and she is Flying on the prop if you trimmed her enough, if not bump her again, let the glass be DRY on the bottom. Rember this is not for sissies,You made a comittment about 4 seconds ago,you are !/2 way there!!!! Now it's time to look over your shoulder to see how far back the other boat is.Good ! can't hardly see em we got em again. Just hold what U got,straighten er up alittle,we are almost runnin down hill now.Time to look @ tach 10,600 or so & 1180 EGT The Orange balls zoom by,whew! let off the Juice,bump trim down one,slowly back off Gas now. Feel the adrenalin rush,so calming. Now you are Stress Relieved

Rip :(

The footage of the explosion and crash is absolutely mortifying.

RIP Scott Kalitta and condolences to his loved ones.

that is so sad. i have always been a big fan of the family. rip
todd

Terrible loss our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

What a terrible accident....:(

R.I.P.

God Speed .....:mad:Terrible loss our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

RIP Scott Kalitta

RIP Scott Kalitta

Always pullin for the Michigan family - even back when Connie ran.

Looks like there's only trees after the trap/barrier. Shouldn't the runoff area be longer?

Godspeed!!!!!!!

SCOTT RIP:(, I hope he did't feel or no it was the end that he was hitting his brakes and not seeing that wall was coming up in a second. I just talked to my neighbor that drag races there and he said its not a good shut down area because of a road behind it, well build a bridge for the road so the shut down area can be longer if its that short of a shut down area they should close the track to cars over 200, or change the road:(. it so sad for his wife and kids to go through this. god bless them.

I haven't heard anything regarding a cameraman, was he killed as well?

GOD SPEED Scott!!!

We'll miss watching you race!:(

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

My Condolences to Kalitta Family.