Scott Kalitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott Kalitta
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| Born | February 18, 1962 Mt. Clemens, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | June 21, 2008 (aged 46) |
| Resting place | Skyway Memorial Gardens, Palmetto, Florida, U.S. |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Doug Kalitta (cousin) |
| NHRA | |
| Years active | 1982–1997; 1999; 2003–2008 |
| Wins | 18 |
| Poles | 20 |
| Championship titles | |
| 1994, 1995 | Top Fuel season champion |
Scott D. Kalitta (February 18, 1962 – June 21, 2008) was an American drag racer. He competed in the exciting Funny Car and Top Fuel classes. These are part of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) series.
Scott won 17 races in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car. He was one of only 14 drivers to win in both types of cars. Scott was the son of famous NHRA driver and crew chief Connie Kalitta.
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About Scott Kalitta
Scott Kalitta lived in Snead Island, Florida. He was married to Kathy in November 1990. They had two sons, Colin and Corey. Scott was originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Scott's Racing Career
Scott Kalitta started his racing career in 1982. His first race was at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. In 1988, he was the fastest qualifier at a race in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He won his first race in 1989 in a Funny Car. This win happened at an event in Houston, Texas.
Moving to Top Fuel
Scott moved to the Top Fuel class in the 1990s. This is a very fast type of drag racing.
Championship Wins
The next two years were amazing for Scott. He won the Top Fuel championship in both 1994 and 1995. In 1994, he made history. He was the first Top Fuel driver to win four races in a row. He won five events that season. In 1995, he won six events. He also won 45 rounds of competition to claim his second championship.
In 1996, Scott won a special $100,000 race in Sonoma. He finished second in the overall points that year. He had the fastest speed at eight races. Scott won the Topeka event for the fourth year in a row in 1997. He then decided to retire from racing in October of that year.
Returning to Racing
Scott came back to racing in 1999. He reached one final round in 10 starts. After a three-year break, Scott returned to Top Fuel in 2003. He made it to two final rounds. He also set a speed record of 333.95 miles per hour (537.44 km/h). In 2004, he won one race and reached two final rounds. He finished in the top five in season points. In 2005, he won two more events.
Back to Funny Car
In 2006, Scott switched back to Funny Car. He drove a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He didn't have as much success as he did in Top Fuel. He finished 13th in points that season. Later that year, he started driving a Toyota Solara. He used this car for the rest of his career.
His 2007 Funny Car season was quiet. He qualified for 16 out of 23 races. He missed the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. His best finish was reaching the semifinals in Denver. In 2008, he made his last final-round appearance. This was at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. He lost to Tony Pedregon in that race. This was just two weeks before his death.
Scott's Death
On June 21, 2008, Scott Kalitta was badly hurt during a race. This happened during qualifying for the 2008 Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals. The event was at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.
Scott's Funny Car was going about 300 mph (480 km/h). His engine exploded in flames near the finish line. The parachutes, which help slow the car, were damaged. They did not work properly. Scott tried to use the brakes and steer the car. He kept control for about 2,235-foot-long (681 m). But the engine was still pushing the car forward.
The car reached the end of the track. It went through a sand trap at about 125 mph (201 km/h). Then it went over a concrete wall. The car hit a piece of heavy equipment. This caused a lot of damage to the car. Scott was in the largest part of the car. He suffered fatal injuries from the impact. He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
The NHRA said Scott loved drag racing just like his father. He also wanted to win, and he became a two-time world champion. He took a break to be with his family. But he was driven to return to racing.
The day after his accident, the Kalitta team honored Scott. They stood on the starting line. His opponent, Robert Hight, drove his car slowly down the track. This was a sign of respect. Scott Kalitta is buried in Skyway Memorial Gardens in Palmetto, Florida. He is remembered by his wife and children.
Legacy and Safety Changes
After Scott's death, the NHRA made important safety changes. On July 2, 2008, they shortened Top Fuel and Funny Car races. They changed the distance to 1,000 feet (305 m). Extra safety measures were also added to all tracks. These included padded walls at the end of sand traps.
This change was not popular with all fans. However, the 1,000-foot distance is now standard. It is used for all "AA Fuel" cars. This includes Top Fuel cars, Top Fuel motorcycles, and AA fuel Funny Cars. Other racing organizations also adopted this shorter distance.
Scott's death also led to a new safety device. This device helps prevent engine explosions. It was developed by Dave Lahey with help from famous drivers. These included John Force, Kenny Bernstein, and Tony Schumacher. The sensor automatically shuts down the fuel pump. It also deploys the parachutes if an engine backfire happens. This device was made mandatory in 2009. It helps make drag racing safer for everyone.
