Scott Kalitta (Blowover) and Blaine Johnson 1996 NHRA Gatornationals Drag Racing Finals

[396ssbbc]

I was named after Blaine Johnson

[jbracer86]

why didn't kalita win? he didn't cross over into Johnson's side of the track

[68SSCAM]

@jbracer86 Because he hit the wall which is classified as a disqualification

[LS6CamaroA4]

Look at the passing power of the other car at about 1:34. Keep in mind they are probably still going about 100mph at that time.

[accentplaya18]

Wish the nhra made wheelie bars mandatory at that time. R.I.P. Scott

[record1207]

B T W, R.I.P. Blane, Scott, Al and So many others lost recently n in the past.

[record1207]

I was at this race! One of the most thrilling T/F finals I ever seen. And that started when I saw Garlits at night at Maple Grove when I was 8. 1966 I think it was. At this race we sat out for 2++ hours of rain. Thats why its so late. Think Force n Hoffman were in F/C final. Thx 4 the post.

[kc8ntp]

Scott Kalitta was an awesome driver, and he will be missed.

[Nxtl68]

ya know what, i don't think he ever hit the wall.... could he of still won that race had it went across in reverse?

[ACDCsuperfan91]

dude he finished!

[fueldragster]

It's sad that these two aren't with us anymore....

[Smilinokie]

WHO WON??

[68SSCAM]

@Smilinokie Johnson

[KingCobraOutlaw]

that man got outta the car like nothing happened

[AutoRockinRacing94]

RIP to both Scott and Blaine

[darkgamer1000]

he was still able to move while on his side

[Mrracingfean]

two great drivers taken form us way to early

[slot962]

RIP scott....

[frankisfunny2007]

who the hell rated slot962 as a bad comment?? he means Scott Kalitta

[slot962]

Thank you lol...wonder what dumbass did that ?

[Nxtl68]

Ralph Sheheen?

[petrolheadkiwi92]

both great drivers with great sportsman ship

rip the both of you

you are dearly missed

[mopardude426]

watch from 2:30 to 2:37 ish. you can see how they actually leave on the ambers. way before the green. i mean pretty much all nhra fans know this.. but you can see it very easily in this video. RIP scott. i saw his last trip to a final round.

[hootowl2112]

I was at this event. It was pretty impressive to see Scott flip like that. We visited his trailer afterward, and my dad, a drag racer himself, asked why he stayed on the throttle, even after he flipped.

He told my father,. " I knew Blaine smoked his tires, I was trying to win the race!"

Scott was a true racer, He and Blaine will be missed.

[mopardude426]

hey how did the blaine guy pass away. rip both of them. p.s. i stood shoulder to shoulder next to scott a week before he passed. (he was packing his chuts.)

[oakleygear]

Blaine Johnson died at the 1996 US Nationals i think. The same year that this video was taken. Blaine's wreck is on You Tube somewhere? I've seen it a couple of times. I believe his tire blew on the top end.

[Angryjon]

RIP Scott, Blaine and Steve Evans.

[kissklassics]

Blaine had his accident in 1996 at the US Nationals in Indianapolis.

[goreds03]

how soon was Blaine Johnson killed after this and it sucks but they both died doing what they love

[juniorracer1995]

it sucks they're both dead :P

[stinkbutt2769]

he is pissed!

[Canon39]

dman, what HASNT ralph shaheem announced for?

[68SSCAM]

Is that the guy announcing at the beginning, because I had no idea who it was, only Steve Evans.

[Canon39]

yea, hes announced for nascar, nhra, WoO sprint cars, USAC, formula cars, supercross... and thats just from what i can remember. probably much more. hes like motorsport's announcing bitch :) haha jk hes cool

[jrm111881]

though Ive never seen Ralph Sheheen announce F-1 as Canon39 says, I have seen him announce in all those other sports Canon mentioned, plus one more: He got his start working for TNN on their ASA stock car coverage.

[Canon39]

i didnt say F1, i said formula cars. he has announced for formula mazda and im sure some other types of formula racing i didnt see.

[jrm111881]

This was a live show. Steve Evans was never in the booth for live shows; he was always at the end of the track to talk to drivers on live shows. I remember watching this. It was Ralph Sheheen in the booth, Bob Frey on the starting line, and Steve Evans at the far end.

[Nxtl68]

@Canon39

Never heard him do Monster Jam lol

[Canon39]

@Nxtl68 haha thats probably all he hasnt done... just tonight i saw him on a broadcast of a nascar whelen modified tour race. hes a motorsports broadcasting whore! haha

[FuelCoupe]

Beck didnt do what ?

[kissklassics]

What's ironic is that the NHRA killed both these drivers with unsafe tracks. Blaine with an opening in the guard rail and Scott with the wall at the end of the track. Sad but true.

[BLIDKIN]

They always wait until after the fact when it comes to safety. Next up will be one of their celebrity drivers killed on the scoreboards (it's already happened to lesser-knowns) and by golly THEN they'll take action. Scelzi and Bazemore (and myself) have brought this issue to the attention of NHRA and various track operators. Nothing will get done until it has to. And let's not even mention the wisdom of having a 2nd crash wall in front of the bleachers.

[alan1320x]

I agree with you on the scoreboards, we know they have killed before.

What do you mean though, about "having a 2nd crash wall in front of the bleachers".

[BLIDKIN]

A 2nd crash wall to keep a car which has mounted the 1st crash wall out of the stands. Picture Brandon Bernstien at E-town 2003 except with a stuck throtte.

[racingformusic]

Classic Final. Rest in Peace Scott Kalitta, and Blaine Johnson, they are both true champions, true legends, and will always be deeply missed.

[68SSCAM]

Scott Kalitta puts his foot back on the throttle twice after it flipped, you can see it from the header flames. I wonder if he did it on purpose?

[FuelCoupe]

I think you'll find it was more the way the car bounced when it landed, the chassis can flex forcing his foot back on the gas, it can also pull on the throttle cables when it flexes. Scott would have been smart enough to know you don't get back on the gas after a blow over or hitting the wall, the chassis would be either bent or broken, rear wing would be screwed, highly likely the steering is broken etc. etc. you just kill the ignition and fuel and wait for it to stop.

[BmastaBerdley]

@68SSCAM I'd be willing to bet the force of landing probably slammed his foot down on the pedal

[MurphyMonster]

@68SSCAM Maybe he put it in reverse and tried to win going backwards. I dont even know if it is possible to go backwards full throttle like that.

[n2nitro]

wow. thanks for posting this.

[hootowl2112]

Saw this one live, total Scott Kalitta classic. Full throttle all the way to the end, total badass

[nitroholic2002]

classic final, both these guys tried to turn the earth on this run, and man, what a classic.

[DLFerrariFan]

the good old days. wow even steve evans is announcing. Awesome video

[AlanJohnsonRacing]

Two legends both in our hearts. I have chills right now, and could cry. Thank God we had Scott and Blaine for the time we did. They are true Champions!

[racingformusic]

Amen to that bud.