Scott Kalitta Fuel Coupe hero killed in NHRA crash

This news hits the Australian Drag Racing fraternity very hard, as Scott Kallita had been a repeat visitor to our shores, racing a Top Fuel Dragster at Western Sydney International Dragway during the 2005 & 2006 USA Boxing Day Top Fuel Invasion events, winning on both occasions.

His qualifying tilt of 4.517 seconds, at over 332.82 miles per hour in 2007 at WSID, stands as both the quickest and fastest one-off runs in Australian Drag Racing history, with the Speed mark still standing as the National Speed Record in ANDRA Championship Drag Racing.

Kalitta's official National Record mark of 4.567 at the same event in 2007 in Sydney, was only just bettered by Phil Read at the last event of the Championship a fortnight ago, during the Castrol Edge Winternationals.

Speaking of team Read, Western Sydney International Dragway board Chairman Jim Read, spoke emotively of Scott Kalitta and his accomplishments.

"The news of Scott's passing has shaken me up as much as any tragedy has," remarked Read in a very emotive tone. "Scott like his father Connie and his cousin Doug, is passionate about Drag Racing. As everyone knows, we had Scott and a lot of the Kalitta team here in Sydney and we got to know Scott's wife and kids... having them at our home for Christmas dinner and so on... I really struggle to find the words to say how devastated I feel about this news..."

Like so many Drag Racing teams, the Kalitta team is all about family efforts and it's these aspects that stick in Jim Read's mind at this time...

"His young boy Corey (14) was already living the Drag Racing dream with his dad, grinding clutch plates and just being part of it all... it's the effect on the family which really saddens me greatly."

The loss of Scott Kalitta will have a heavy impact in Australian Top Fuel ranks, as the knowledge sharing with both the Jim Read Racing and Santo Rapisarda teams was valuable and significant and the friendships which result from these relationships.

"I know some people question knowledge sharing but the spectacle in ANDRA Top Fuel these days with 4.5 second passes is in no small part to data gathering and learning from all that and the generosity of the Kalitta Motorsports fraternity has been a real positive influence on a few teams here -- including ours," remarked Bruce Read the Crew Chief for current Australian Top Fuel Champion -- brother Phil Read.

"What is more tragic, is we have befriended the Kalitta family and the team as a whole. I have already spoken to several members of the team and you can imagine how they feel right now and its one of the dark and cloudy days we suffer as human beings, where no words can adequately cover the pain and anguish that must exist for the entire Kalitta team and family. Our thoughts are all with them at this terrible time."

In this authors' own mind, images of what Scott Kalitta was all about come rapid and vivid.

When he came out for the first Boxing Day event in Sydney, he had a genuine smile on his face about racing for racing's sake, he is forever the passionate Drag Racer...

"What I am loving about racing in Australia is we are concentrating on gettin' down that quarter mile here. Many people know I am not the biggest fan of all the media stuff, entertaining sponsors and all that. I know we have to do that (sponsors and media) but for me, it is all about racing these cars. That's what I love to do and down here we just want to race hard and put on a good show for the Australian fans here... and that suits me just fine. Racing in Australia is about pure Drag Racing, which sometimes we can lose back home..."

May we never forget that Scott Kalitta Drag Racing passion!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• crash
• drag
• racing
• accident
• scott
• kalitta
• killed
• top
• fuel
• nhra

[paulzwil]

To Laplander, thanks for sticking up for Scott. You're absolutely right. RIP Scott

[fkn451]

Scott was a regular entrant at our xmas event in sydney australia (USA vs AUS)and still holds the national record of 4.51 acheived 2 yrs ago. This year Hillary Will is one of the Americans visiting to help u guys get the trophy back. You guys have won it 3 times but i dont think you'll ever see that trophy again. The event normally falls on boxing day and has been renamed "The Scott Kalitta Memorial" Search youtube for "usa vs aus top fuel 2008" mid January 09.

[Crocfan20]

I first heard about Scott Kalitta's death while watching the Nationwide race that night,just the sheer violence of the crash shocked me...

RIp Scott Kalitta

Oh,and for the retarded assholes who are making disrepectful comments,lets see you strap into a car that's designed and built to go from 0 to 200+ mph in a split second and travel down a stright track in order to record the fastest time,knowing full well that your next race can easily be your last.Until you can do that,please STFU!!!

[AshleyNHRAForce]

how can you people say that racing is insignificant that is all i do. Racing is my life along with my father john.

[pspgamerserjio]

Well looks like his car took him to heaven

[BigChuck500]

I kinda have to agree with big will. I have been drag racing for 30 years but calling a drag racer a hero sounds kinda silly. A great guy, awesome racer, great dad, etc. but a hero? I'm sorry but we are not worthy.

[mbaum1017]

@ bigwill.... why dont you be a hero and go kill yourself

[stonecold42132]

You can shut the hell up because you do not what the drivers have to go through

[Bigwill6363]

Sad he died, yes he was a good racer, but hero he was not. A nurse giving cpr in an emergency room is a hero. Some idiot going 300mph down a track is not a hero........

[everthinka]

I think everyone deep down inside wants to see someone die in a motorsport race! Case in point-how many people brag about how so and so won the race?A few I'm sure.How many people brag,in graphic detail, about how they were witness to someone dying in a race?EVERYONE!!!

[metalreign1]

my condolences to the family and the fans.

[Draxindustries1]

Is it true the blower had to be removed from his ass or is that just more bs?

[throck2006]

@kc2ckb hey don't waste your breath on somebody who puts negativity into the light he was an awesome racer when i lived in rural humeston i saw how well scott kalitta did he kicked some major ass took a major list of names in the sport to i feel for ya i am a major fan of drag racing but i would never put myself in his position the way that firey crash took his life i agree RIP may all of the future drag racers make you proud as you have made me proud

[NeeKroVal]

u can't have a short ass track with a car goin 300 miles per hour no matter how fast u think its supposed to stop parachutes fail