R.I.P. Scott Kalitta 1962-2008 (drivers, fuel, engine, road)
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He died from a wreck that happened at Englishtown Raceway yesterday. His engine blew at around 300 m.p.h. and he continued down the track until he ran into the runoff area and exploded. He was a two time Top Fuel Champion with 18 career wins. He was the man to beat in the mid to late 90's. He will be missed.
i thought it was very cool that robert height just idled his car down the track on race day when he was suposed to race scott kalitta. at least he died doing what he loved
What I can't understand is why there is no sand trap at the end of the track. It's just a wall. Aren't they required by NHRA rules?
There is a sand trap at Englishtown. I don't know why the wall is there but it shortens the length of the trap in the right lane. Looking at the video it appears one chute deployed because of body damage but he did not deploy the second one. That would be instinctive for some with Scott's experience. He was probably knocked out by the engine explosion and never had a chance to slow down. Sand traps have their limits. A car at high speed can bounce across the top like a rock skipping on water or dig in when it first hits and go airborne.
Keep Connie, Doug and all of Kalitta Racing in your thoughts and prayers.
they said on nhra race day that most of the tracks were built in the 50 s & 60 s when the cars were only going about 200 mph or a little over. what i don't understand is why the wall is about 10feet behind the net. that doesn't really serve the purpose of having a net there. if they moved the wall there would be plenty of run off.
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Originally Posted by JFRRACING
they said on nhra race day that most of the tracks were built in the 50 s & 60 s when the cars were only going about 200 mph or a little over. what i don't understand is why the wall is about 10feet behind the net. that doesn't really serve the purpose of having a net there. if they moved the wall there would be plenty of run off.
I looked at an aerial view, they were probably required to construct that wall as there's a public road not too far beyond the sand trap.
i agree with what alot of drivers are saying in the nitro feilds. that they should only race to the 1000 foot on tracks that have too short of a shut down area.i think that would be much safer. i know in ihra their already doing that on alot of tracks
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Scott Kalitta Will Be Missed
