176:
162:
316:
additional separation of chassis components and the vehicle's engine. The largest portion of the race vehicle came to rest in a grassy area 250 feet (76 m) south of the shutdown area. Kalitta was contained in this portion of the race vehicle and had sustained fatal blunt-force injuries. A review of information provided by Delphi, which was recorded by accelerometers mounted to the vehicle, revealed multiple impacts producing over 100
642:
248:), and he won five events that season. He won six events and 45 rounds of competition in 1995 to win the championship. His 1996 season had him win the $ 100,000 Budweiser Shootout at Sonoma en route to a second-place points finish. He had the top speed at a series-best eight races that season. Kalitta won the Topeka event for a fourth straight year in 1997. He retired in October of that season.
416:; they developed a sensor that in the event of an engine backfire will automatically shut down the fuel pump and deploy the parachutes. Although several NHRA drivers have expressed their displeasure at the introduction of the new sensor, they admit that it should reduce, if not eliminate, the circumstances that led to Kalitta's death. The device was made a mandatory safety requirement in 2009.
311:
system to be locked, maintaining engine power to the rear wheels. Witnesses and audio recordings reveal the vehicle's engine was firing throughout the shutdown portion of the racetrack, which further reinforced the fact that the vehicle's engine was still providing power for some time. Kalitta's vehicle reached the end of the paved race track and went through a
348:
At the time of his accident, Kalitta was not qualified for the following day's national event in the Funny Car class. The run qualified him 13th. The next day, in what would have been his opening elimination round event, the entire
Kalitta team stood on the starting line on his designated side of the
344:
The NHRA said on
Kalitta's death, "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 very long period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to
310:
official news release, evidence discovered in
Kalitta's lane revealed that he had applied mechanical braking and maintained steering control of the vehicle throughout the 2,235-foot-long (681 m) "shutdown" portion of the racetrack. Postcrash examination of the vehicle further revealed the clutch
368:
On July 2, 2008, the NHRA shortened Top Fuel and Funny Car races to 1,000 feet (305 m) in response to the ongoing investigation, and extra safety measures were placed at all tracks, including padded retaining walls at the end of sand traps, replacing the polymer nets held up by concrete posts.
251:
Kalitta came back in 1999, making one final round in 10 starts. Kalitta returned to Top Fuel in 2003 after a three-year layoff. He made two final rounds and set a speed record at 333.95 miles per hour (537.44 km/h), but did not certify the speed with a fast enough backup run to claim the
315:
at around 125 mph (201 km/h). The vehicle went over the concrete retaining wall. The vehicle continued forward and hit a piece of heavy equipment, which was positioned outside the "run-off" area by the ESPN television crew. This impact caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle and
202:(NHRA) Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. He had 17 career Top Fuel wins and one career Funny Car win. At the time of his death, due to an accident during race qualifying, he was one of 14 drivers to win in both divisions. He was the son of veteran NHRA driver and crew chief
408:, the cause of the spectacular engine fires often associated with nitro burners. A solution was developed by Dave Lahey of Electromotion in Columbus, Ohio, with the help of 15-time Funny Car champion John Force, former Funny Car and Top Fuel champion
340:
percentage. This level, 25% of the legal limit for intoxication in New Jersey, remains in violation of NHRA rules (Section 1.7, I., B.1.), as well as N.J.S.A. Title 13 Chapter 62 New Jersey State Motor
Vehicle Racetrack Regulations.
252:
national record. In 2004, he recorded one win in two final-round appearances. He was the top qualified at both Las Vegas events, and finished in the top five in season points. His 2005 season had him win two events.
306:. Kalitta's Funny Car was traveling about 300 mph (480 km/h) when the engine exploded in flames near the finish line. The parachutes were damaged and failed to slow the vehicle. According to the
244:
The next two years were big for
Kalitta, as he won the Top Fuel championship both years. In 1994, he became the first Top Fuel driver to have four straight event wins (Columbus, Topeka, Denver, and
369:
Although unpopular with the fans, the 1,000-foot distance is the standard for all “AA Fuel” (nitromethane) powered categories (Top Fuel car, Top Fuel motorcycle, and AA fuel Funny Car). The
401:
changed to 1,000-foot racing for its Top Fuel cars starting with the 2017–18 ACDelco
Thunder Nationals (first IHRA Top Fuel race of the 2017–18 IHRA 400 Thunder season).
302:
On June 21, 2008, Kalitta was fatally injured during the final round of qualifying for the 2008 Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge
Township Raceway Park in
623:
672:
370:
707:
702:
278:-sponsored Solara, and missed the inaugural NHRA Countdown to the Championship. His best finish of the season was a semifinals appearance at
230:
Scott
Kalitta's career began in 1982 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. His first career number-one qualifier happened at the
546:
697:
692:
677:
398:
326:. He was transported to the Old Bridge Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, and was pronounced dead on arrival.
259:, but did not have as much success as he had in Top Fuel the previous two years. In the season, Kalitta drove his
63:
646:
394:
571:"State Police Fatal Accident Unit Releases Findings on Drag Strip Crash that Claimed Life of Scott Kalitta"
502:
413:
199:
393:
remained at the 1,320 feet (402 m) distance because of its length until the end of the 2011 season.
332:
toxicological analysis of blood obtained from Scott
Kalitta during his autopsy revealed the presence of
682:
353:, who would have been his opponent, idled his car down the quarter-mile track as a sign of respect.
498:
443:
274:
Kalitta's 2007 Funny Car season was rather uneventful, as he qualified for 16 of 23 events in his
575:
307:
303:
231:
218:, with wife, Kathy (married November, 1990) and two sons, Colin and Corey. He was a native of
687:
385:
rounds of the
European Drag Racing Championship because of track concerns, but drag races at
337:
256:
215:
44:
667:
662:
8:
624:"NHRA cuts race distance to 1000 feet: Move made to enhance safety after Kalitta's death"
219:
611:
449:
390:
357:
76:
556:
378:
287:
283:
279:
260:
245:
263:-sponsored Funny Car to a 13th-place points finish, well behind eventual champion
409:
404:
As a direct result of Kalitta's death, a solution was sought to eliminate engine
551:
386:
235:
203:
87:
524:
656:
291:
268:
374:
350:
312:
267:. Toward the end of the year, Kalitta switched from the Monte Carlo to the
234:, event in 1988. He got his first win in 1989 in Funny Car at the event in
175:
97:
598:
570:
382:
187:
169:
264:
161:
282:
in July. In 2008, he made his 36th and last final-round appearance at
405:
191:
195:
166:
148:
333:
318:
641:
397:
became Australia's first 1,000-foot drag strip. In 2017, the
345:
return to the drag strip to regain his championship form."
109:
275:
186:(February 18, 1962 – June 21, 2008) was an American
356:
Kalitta is buried at the Skyway Memorial Gardens in
612:
2008 Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals: Event home page
525:"Former champ Kalitta lost in qualifying accident"
179:Kalitta's crew working on his dragster in the pits
654:
493:
491:
489:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
336:at a level of 23 mg/dl. This converts to a .02%
271:, which he ran for the remainder of his career.
477:
475:
473:
471:
469:
467:
465:
463:
461:
459:
599:"New Jersey State Police - 2008 News Releases"
360:. He was survived by his wife and children .
255:For 2006, Kalitta returned to Funny Car in a
456:
547:"Scott Kalitta, Drag Racer, Dies in Crash"
294:in the final, two weeks before his death.
673:Sportspeople from Mount Clemens, Michigan
322:, with some approaching or exceeding 200
174:
160:
241:He moved to Top Fuel during the 1990s.
655:
439:
437:
435:
433:
431:
429:
708:Sportspeople from Ypsilanti, Michigan
703:Racing drivers who died while racing
444:NHRA's Scott Kalitta killed in crash
426:
412:, and seven-time Top Fuel champion
13:
14:
719:
634:
399:International Hot Rod Association
165:Kalitta's American International
640:
209:
64:Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
616:
605:
591:
563:
539:
517:
395:Adelaide International Raceway
1:
419:
200:National Hot Rod Association
7:
698:Sports deaths in New Jersey
693:Filmed deaths in motorsport
678:Racing drivers from Detroit
446:, The Associated Press via
10:
724:
119:1982–1997; 1999; 2003–2008
363:
225:
214:Kalitta made his home in
155:
144:
139:
131:
123:
115:
108:
104:
93:
83:
75:Skyway Memorial Gardens,
71:
52:
30:
23:
297:
576:New Jersey State Police
308:New Jersey State Police
304:Englishtown, New Jersey
232:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
180:
172:
338:blood alcohol content
257:Chevrolet Monte Carlo
216:Snead Island, Florida
178:
164:
45:Mt. Clemens, Michigan
649:at Wikimedia Commons
579:. September 17, 2008
190:who competed in the
220:Ypsilanti, Michigan
140:Championship titles
16:American drag racer
181:
173:
645:Media related to
527:. NHRA. June 2008
450:Houston Chronicle
358:Palmetto, Florida
159:
158:
77:Palmetto, Florida
41:February 18, 1962
715:
683:Dragster drivers
644:
628:
627:
620:
614:
609:
603:
602:
595:
589:
588:
586:
584:
567:
561:
560:
559:. June 22, 2008.
557:Associated Press
543:
537:
536:
534:
532:
521:
515:
514:
512:
510:
499:"NHRA Biography"
495:
454:
453:, June 21, 2008.
441:
379:Alastaro Circuit
288:Joliet, Illinois
284:Route 66 Raceway
184:Scott D. Kalitta
59:
40:
38:
21:
20:
723:
722:
718:
717:
716:
714:
713:
712:
653:
652:
637:
632:
631:
622:
621:
617:
610:
606:
597:
596:
592:
582:
580:
569:
568:
564:
545:
544:
540:
530:
528:
523:
522:
518:
508:
506:
497:
496:
457:
442:
427:
422:
414:Tony Schumacher
410:Kenny Bernstein
366:
300:
228:
212:
198:classes in the
151:season champion
67:
61:
57:
48:
42:
36:
34:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
721:
711:
710:
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
680:
675:
670:
665:
651:
650:
636:
635:External links
633:
630:
629:
615:
604:
590:
562:
552:New York Times
538:
516:
455:
424:
423:
421:
418:
387:Hockenheimring
373:shortened the
365:
362:
299:
296:
236:Houston, Texas
227:
224:
211:
208:
204:Connie Kalitta
157:
156:
153:
152:
146:
142:
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
125:
121:
120:
117:
113:
112:
106:
105:
102:
101:
95:
91:
90:
88:Connie Kalitta
85:
81:
80:
73:
69:
68:
62:
60:(aged 46)
54:
50:
49:
43:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
720:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
679:
676:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
660:
658:
648:
647:Scott Kalitta
643:
639:
638:
625:
619:
613:
608:
600:
594:
578:
577:
572:
566:
558:
554:
553:
548:
542:
526:
520:
504:
500:
494:
492:
490:
488:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
462:
460:
452:
451:
445:
440:
438:
436:
434:
432:
430:
425:
417:
415:
411:
407:
402:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
361:
359:
354:
352:
349:dragstrip as
346:
342:
339:
335:
331:
327:
325:
321:
320:
314:
309:
305:
295:
293:
292:Tony Pedregon
289:
285:
281:
277:
272:
270:
269:Toyota Solara
266:
262:
258:
253:
249:
247:
242:
239:
237:
233:
223:
221:
217:
210:Personal life
207:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
177:
171:
168:
163:
154:
150:
147:
143:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
111:
107:
103:
99:
96:
92:
89:
86:
82:
78:
74:
72:Resting place
70:
65:
56:June 21, 2008
55:
51:
46:
33:
29:
25:Scott Kalitta
22:
19:
688:NHRA drivers
626:. July 2008.
618:
607:
593:
581:. Retrieved
574:
565:
550:
541:
529:. Retrieved
519:
507:. Retrieved
447:
403:
375:Mantorp Park
367:
355:
351:Robert Hight
347:
343:
329:
328:
323:
317:
301:
290:, losing to
273:
254:
250:
243:
240:
229:
213:
183:
182:
116:Years active
98:Doug Kalitta
58:(2008-06-21)
18:
668:2008 deaths
663:1962 births
383:Tierp Arena
330:Post mortem
261:Kalitta Air
657:Categories
420:References
265:John Force
188:drag racer
145:1994, 1995
37:1962-02-18
391:Santa Pod
313:sand trap
192:Funny Car
94:Relatives
583:June 27,
531:June 23,
509:June 23,
406:backfire
196:Top Fuel
170:dragster
167:Top Fuel
149:Top Fuel
100:(cousin)
381:, and
334:ethanol
505:. 2008
364:Legacy
280:Denver
246:Sonoma
226:Career
84:Father
79:, U.S.
66:, U.S.
47:, U.S.
298:Death
132:Poles
585:2019
533:2008
511:2008
503:NHRA
448:The
389:and
194:and
124:Wins
110:NHRA
53:Died
31:Born
371:FIA
286:in
276:DHL
659::
573:.
555:.
549:.
501:.
458:^
428:^
377:,
238:.
222:.
206:.
135:20
127:18
601:.
587:.
535:.
513:.
324:g
319:g
39:)
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
