Scott Kalitta
(1962 - 2008)

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General Details

Name:	Mr Scott Kalitta
Gender:	Male
Age:	46 years old
Lived:	Sunday, 18 February 1962 - Saturday, 21 June 2008

My Story

Scott Kalitta was an American drag racer who competed in the Funny Car class in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Powerade Drag Racing Series. He was killed in Englishtown, New Jersey, after an accident during qualifying. He had 17 career Top Fuel wins and 1 career Funny Car win, and at his death he was one of fourteen drivers to win in both divisions.

Kalitta was son to veteran NHRA driver and crew chief Connie Kalitta and cousin to teammate Doug Kalitta.

On June 21, 2008, Kalitta was fatally injured during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Kalitta’s Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when the engine exploded into flames near the finish line. The parachutes were damaged and failed to slow the vehicle. Kalitta's vehicle went through a sand trap at the end of the track that normally would stop the car, and impacted a concrete-filled post that supports the safety net. Kalitta was transported to the Old Bridge Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The NHRA said on Kalitta's passing that "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 return to the drag strip to regain his championship form."

At the time his vehicle exploded, Kalitta had already qualified for the following days National event in the funny car class. The next day, at what would have been his opening elimination round event, his team stood on the starting line on his side of the dragstrip as Robert Hight, who would have been his opponent, idled his car down the quarter-mile track out of respect.

The following day, the NHRA began an investigation into what happened to cause the car to slam into the retaining wall at over 300 miles per hour. The investigation is continuing and a cause has yet to be determined.