Scott Kalitta killed in crash @ Etown

[Hemidoug]

I just heard for a friend down there...Scott passed away in the crash. The track is shut down and it is doubtfull if there will be any more racing tonight. They think he was knocked out when the engine blew and never hit the brakes...the car ended up in the road that goes into the racetrack. 


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

[tan top]

sad news    RIP Scott

[Steve P.]

What the hell is going on with this sport?? Too many crashes lately..

RIP Scott..

[Hemidoug]

Youtube video of the crash.......

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

[Ghoste]

WOW!!  That was just terrifying to watch.    RIP Scott

[69*F5*SE]

Wow, that was horrifying. RIP

[69bronzeT5]

Wow, that was a horrific crash. Especially the end of it R.I.P Scott

[Chris G.]

That is one disturbing video to watch. RIP Scott. 

E-Town is one of the safest tracks around. They could have a 2 mile shutdown area, and that wouldn't of made a difference. trying to stop a 300MPH car is impossible once the chute fails. What a scary crash.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Wow.....unbelievably sad

My condolences to his family

[RJS]

We lost yet another "ONE OF THE GREATS!" RIP Scott

[chargerrt]

Gosh that was a horrible crash    Is there no sand pit at the end of the track?  It looks like it's just pavement into a wall 

[hemi-hampton]

Bummer My dad said he knew Connie Kalitta & Connies brother used to come into the Restoration shop I worked at in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to sell us Welding Supplies not to long ago. Kalittas well known Michigan along with Shirley so I'd always watch their Races over the years. Total bummer LEON.

[bmoparmofo]

Just brutal.....R.I.P...... 

[charger Downunder]

Gosh that was a horrible crash    Is there no sand pit at the end of the track?  It looks like it's just pavement into a wall 

Sad sad sad
Tracks should be safer a wall like that is no good.

[71ChallengeHer]

R.I.P. Scott   

[Mike DC]

 
Do those cars run remote brake & kill switches under the control of a track official or crewmember?  It seems like he never even braked and the chute didn't look right either.


The Monster Truck world has been running remote kill switches for years because they're so afraid of a truck climbing the bleachers.

[NHCharger]

Gosh that was a horrible crash    Is there no sand pit at the end of the track?  It looks like it's just pavement into a wall 

Sad sad sad
Tracks should be safer a wall like that is no good.

Very sad.
It's time for the NHRA to implement NASCAR's ideas about making a safer race track. Many of these tracks (NASCAR and NHRA) were built years ago when  top speeds weren't close to what they are now. It took NASCAR losing four driver in less than two seasons to finally pull their head out of their ass and install soft walls and crack down on driver safety systems inside the car. At 300+ MPH I'm not sure what else they could do inside the cockpit but I would think someone could come up with some type of barricade system at the end of the track to keep these cars from exploding on impact.

Mike. It looked like the chutes got shredded from debris off the car.

[hutch]

damn that sucks.  I saw the photos, i hope it was quick.  that fire did not look like something you would want to live from.

[hemi68charger]

Very sad indeed.... That was tragic and to think his family was there?

RIP Scott........

[Shakey]

Very sad indeed.

I guess when you play with fire there is always a chance you'll get burned.

[Mike DC]

300 mph is no joke on hardware that's comfy doing it all day long.  Let alone a race car where every part has to be completely maxed-out to accomplish it.  Roll the dice enough times, ya know? 


It's sad. 

But at least he got to die quickly & painlessly while doing what he loved.  I can think of plenty of worse ways to go.

[BigBlockSam]

 

[Steve P.]

         Fantastic tribute by Robert Height and team Force. It made me cry...... 

[firefighter3931]

Horrible tragedy.....condolences to the Kalitta family 



Ron

[RallyeMike]

Do those cars run remote brake & kill switches under the control of a track official or crewmember?  It seems like he never even braked and the chute didn't look right either.

The Monster Truck world has been running remote kill switches for years because they're so afraid of a truck climbing the bleachers.

I would say that the motor explosion pretty much killed all power.  Once the chute is gone at 300+ it's pretty hard to stop the car. The G-forces from the chutes slowing the car I think are harder than the launch and can pull the car off the ground.

These cars a are just so brutally violent that I just don't see how you can find a way to 100% stop something similar from happening again. Short of a 5 mile long shut down, I don't think there is much that can be done. Maybe remote set of backup chutes? Even in this case I think they would have been toast.

Very sad and sobering.