NHRA driver Scott Kalitta Killed today

[Qtr milerocket]

I just saw the video on ESPN a very tragic loss to the racing community. :(

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/nhra/news/story?id=3455554

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/driver_killed_in_crash_at_old.html


Peace :cool2:



James

[BigBadStang]

R.I.P Scott. :(

[Katmandu]

Ah man... not another one. :(

[1byafender]

GOD BLESS....

[shoman1997]

its a sad day in racing :(

[BigBadStang]

if anyone wants to see the footage... http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=foxsports&vid=44c700f4-5de8-4f38-9815-b0422b497378

I would guess he was killed at the end of the track at the fence. But I only hope maybe he was knocked unconscious from the initial explosion, and didn't have to "see it coming". :(

[99Slobra]

man that runoff looks...short...


RIP

[BigBadStang]

Tony Pedregon was very vocal today about some of the facilities they race at, and the lack of the tracks shutdown areas being expanded to keep up with the increasing speeds of the Nitro cars.
If he survived the initial explosion, his life could have likely been spared with a longer, more expansive run off area prior to the fence. NHRA does need to address this IMO.

[cobrajoe]

god speed Scott. You'll be missed.:angel::(

[Mista Bone]

A buddy of mine was at the race, texted me right away.

God Speed Kalitta family.

[gtbadboy]

That sucks

[ibstrokin]

I really hate to hear that, best wishes to the family.

[04 Venom]

It really makes me wonder why the NHRA does not mandate longer shut-down areas. Some tracks were never lengthened from the days when funny cars and top fuel cars were well under 300 MPH.

[DeckerEnt]

My condolences to the Kalitta Family. This is a terrible loss. Not just to the family but to the entire industry of drag racing. He will be missed. He had 2 sons. What a shame.
Keith

[ibstrokin]

It really makes me wonder why the NHRA does not mandate longer shut-down areas. Some tracks were never lengthened from the days when funny cars and top fuel cars were well under 300 MPH.

Or at least lengthen the sand trap.

[PonymanfiveO]

:(:(




..

[IWRBB]

All of the tracks around have short shut down areas too. They need to buy the land behind the starting line and move it back about an 1/8 mile. They can't lenghten the track though, EW, TS and KK all end in the drink. Look at them on Google maps with the satellite pics.

I think the NHRA is not doing what they can to make the cars safer. Force put in huge R&D money after Eric Medlin died, but they are still running skinny tube frame cars with a weak body on top. If you look at the impacts the F1 and Indy cars take head on into walls at 200+ MPH and how those cars fare, there's obviously more that could be done in NHRA. It'd hurt "the show" though, as the price of a car would shyrocket and they'd likely not get full fields for an event. They already are only getting 16 TF dragsters at most events this year with the crap economy and all.

[mustang8998]

R.I.P. Scott.

[Black Horse]

Truely a sad day in the racing world. My thought and prayers go out to his whole family.

[Evil_Capri]

R.I.P.

[mach_u]

That's horrible! :( I agree 100% about the run off also. Something needs to be addressed

[untamed]

RIP Scott:(

[95turbocharged]

such a great loss!!! our thoughts and prayers go out his family.

[8banger]

R.I.P. Scott....I know what the family is going through....I lost my Best friend in the world,long time buddy,growed up together at EDGEwater 2001 in a R.E.D. that I had driven ..He was getting his license(passes) (I was there with my daughter and to sign off on his license)and the throttle stuck open,....on the first full pass..no where to go..didnt kill the engine, panicd and ended up in the woods upside down at E2O....if only they had a SAND trap with the proper SAFTEY netting,,,,mabe he'd be here today with us..I contacted NHRA at the shut down area issue(why E20 didnt have a sand trap or net) ,,,and they stated it ,,its up to the track owner to install saftey devices at the end of the track....Jeez... just OMG,,a SOLID WALL at the end of the shutdown.. :mad: .....

[Timido]

Thats too bad. R.I.P. Scott

[BUHBYY]

They got the Phone Call in the tower at Clay City while I was announcing second round of qualifying , It is that much more humbling when it happens while you are at the track . Is all I can say he had the means to do whatever he wanted and he passed doing what he loved !!!!

[cstreu1026]

That is a terrible thing to see. I cant believe how little tracks do to improve safety or even enforce the rules that are in place. This year I have witnessed a 9.95 with no cage and and an 11 teen with out even a helmet at Kilkare. Safety rules are there for a reason and racers don't seem to want to follow them and tracks don't seem to want to enforce them.

[beefcake]

very sad

[KenB]

I was at the race today. The shutdown there is actually about half a mile. The problem is they need more sand and/or a tire wall or something. Either way is was a very freak accident and the event wasn't the same with this on everyones mind.

Ken

[may93]

I dont see why they wouldnt just spend the money and lenghten the end of the track. It's obviously a problem and the NHRA should refuse to race there until they do as a way to force them to make the proper safety changes.

[Mista Bone]

the length is plenty.........but a driver knocked out still wouldn't have slowed much for another 1/2 mile.....

When SK hit the sand it ramped his car above the sandtrap and he hit a post for the catch barrier.

Sand is great to slow a car, but when the car is flying above it at 250 mph it is useless.

[BigBadStang]

It's obvious by the death of Scott, the length isn't plenty. I saw where one team is hooking the chute cables to the burst panel, so when the panel blows out, it will automatically pull the chutes...as long as they don't get burned up, that could help...seems like a good idea.

[Flaming87lx]

Scott Kalitta died in a terrible crash this weekend. Please pray for the family!!:angel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DziJdGwFQjU&feature=related

[barkey]

I think jim head had it right make top fuel and funny car 1/8 mile most of these tracks cannot be made any longer'. I don't think this will solve all the problems this is a very dangerous sport but it will slow the cars down and save everyone money teams will spend less on parts tracks will not spend more making a track longer if its even possible and most importantly it might save a few lives.

[JonS]

It is very unfortunate, but at that level racing is just dangerous. It's hard to make 300+ safe no matter what precautions are taken.

[92BlackStang]

RIP scott, will be greatly missed