Rest in Peace Scott
- Thread starter Jenn
- Start date
exponentialpi
Nitro Member
I am still numb. This one hurts.
R.I.P. Scott. My condolences to the Kalitta family.
R.I.P. Scott. My condolences to the Kalitta family.
This is some terrible news. I can't believe we lost another FC racer. My sympathies to his family, friends and all the Kalitta teams, they always appear to be an extremely tight knit group. Hang in there, guys/ gals.
Scott's career was a great one and he will be missed by all.
RIP, Scott.
Scott's career was a great one and he will be missed by all.
RIP, Scott.
Dave
Nitro Member
I can't believe this is really happening. I feel so bad about this. I have some good memories from when I was with the Kalitta Team at several races a few years ago. This is so hard to take. My best goes out to the Kalitta family at this terrible time. I don't know what else to say. Sorry.
Dave
Dave
"Dr. Dirt"
Nitro Member
Forgive me the story but as a teen ager, my schoolmate, Gary Hudsbeth was killed in his drag car and I told my dad how unfair it was that such a young man should be taken like that. My father taught me a very important lesson then, that sticks with me and applies to Scott's passing today.
He said these guys know the risks and agree to perform despite them. Their courage to do so is what puts them on pedestals for us fans. Why should we expect them to never face the incidents that can and do exist in such a sport at such speeds. He died while assuming the risks and betting against the odds to do what he loved most.
My father's next door neighbor was Bobby Ball who died in his race car after competing in two Indianapolis 500. It took my dad many years to come to grips with the fact that Bobby, like Scott passed as a hero but history and his legacy proved it as such. I suspect, just as many others have said that Scott will now take his place with Darrell, Eric, Blaine and a myriad of our other heros taken prematurely. They will all serve as reminders of the inherent dangers but better yet, they will cause changes to insure and promote greater safety for all others.
Thanks Scott, for all the great memories we'll have. We'll never forget you then or the incident today. My prayers go out to all who remain behind.
He said these guys know the risks and agree to perform despite them. Their courage to do so is what puts them on pedestals for us fans. Why should we expect them to never face the incidents that can and do exist in such a sport at such speeds. He died while assuming the risks and betting against the odds to do what he loved most.
My father's next door neighbor was Bobby Ball who died in his race car after competing in two Indianapolis 500. It took my dad many years to come to grips with the fact that Bobby, like Scott passed as a hero but history and his legacy proved it as such. I suspect, just as many others have said that Scott will now take his place with Darrell, Eric, Blaine and a myriad of our other heros taken prematurely. They will all serve as reminders of the inherent dangers but better yet, they will cause changes to insure and promote greater safety for all others.
Thanks Scott, for all the great memories we'll have. We'll never forget you then or the incident today. My prayers go out to all who remain behind.
This news is just terrible. We stayed at the same hotel as the Kalittas in Topeka and talked with Scott the whole weekend. Saturday night in the lounge with Scott and Connie (Hillary too) was an experience me and the wife will never forget. Scott was so friendly and genuine with us and even though he was dejected about about his DNQ at that race, he was still upbeat and optimistic about turning his season around. And he sure turned it around the next week in Joliet! My condolences go out to his wife, his two boys and to Connie.
RIP Scott, you were a true Champion!
RIP Scott, you were a true Champion!
Baca Racing
Nitro Member
There is nothing that anyone can say to make this any easier. Many thoughts and prayers are with Scott's family as well as his team and the entire racing community because of this tragedy. We simply cannot believe another driver has been taken from us yet again.
Love and peace Scott.
The Baca Family
Love and peace Scott.
The Baca Family
headporter
Nitro Member
2 years ago me and a buddy were @ LVMS on a Monday test session.
We came up to Scott he was on the front side of his Tractor. Standing there smoking Cigars. He had a pile of them maybe 15 or so on top of the tractor tire. So I say to him Dude those are gonna kill you. he said F**K no this car is if the body don't stop hitting the tires and loving the wall. He was so calm about it, even after hitting the wall. He said no biggy well figure it out. We chatted for 10-15 minutes about how he liked the Funny compaired to the rail. He said ah give me 5 minutes or so more seat time I'll be ok.
RIP Scott
Condolences to Team Kalitta and the entire family.
We came up to Scott he was on the front side of his Tractor. Standing there smoking Cigars. He had a pile of them maybe 15 or so on top of the tractor tire. So I say to him Dude those are gonna kill you. he said F**K no this car is if the body don't stop hitting the tires and loving the wall. He was so calm about it, even after hitting the wall. He said no biggy well figure it out. We chatted for 10-15 minutes about how he liked the Funny compaired to the rail. He said ah give me 5 minutes or so more seat time I'll be ok.
RIP Scott
Condolences to Team Kalitta and the entire family.
BurkartFan
Nitro Member
As so many have said, there are just no words to describe how sad I am and how much my heart aches for Scott's family. They are all in my prayers - his family, his friends, and all of those who loved him. He will be missed...
To say this SUCKS is an understatement. As someone said, the Kalitta crews are a very tight-knit group. Many of the boys have been together for years. My son, Randy, and Jim O. were with Scott for his very first F/C win in Houston, TX. All these guys have remained the best of friends for many, many years. It will take a long time for them to get past this one.
Yes, everyone realizes that there is risk involved in driving these cars, but as my son told me this afternoon, "the race track shouldn't be the thing that kills you". The sand trap acted as a launch ramp, hitting a camera boom on the way over the catch net, crashing head on into the concrete wall at the end of the track. Had things been done correctly, we would still have Scott with us.
Rest in peace, Eddie. You were one of a kind.
Yes, everyone realizes that there is risk involved in driving these cars, but as my son told me this afternoon, "the race track shouldn't be the thing that kills you". The sand trap acted as a launch ramp, hitting a camera boom on the way over the catch net, crashing head on into the concrete wall at the end of the track. Had things been done correctly, we would still have Scott with us.
Rest in peace, Eddie. You were one of a kind.
This was the first time I was ever at a track to witness a tragedy such as this. I am still numb many hours after the crash and I will never forget the somber feeling in the pits and the feeling in my gut as I watched Scott's car enter the sand trap.May the Kalitta team, friends, and family be in my thoughts and prayers. Just a sad, sad day. I hope going back to the track tomorrow will help me feel better.
Paul I got your text around 3PM saying "Scott Kalitta had a Nasty crash!", and my first thought was "Ok I'll check it out tonight when I watch qualifying!" I got home 20 minutes later, and I get a call from my friend Tammy who was there as well telling me to turn on qualifying! Without even responding she told me "Scott Didn't make it!" Watching the Qualifying show and seeing the crash, it looked shockingly similar to a qualifying lap Scott made at Phoenix 2 years ago in testing when he announced his return to Drag racing. It was the first pass I ever saw Scott Make in a Funny car in a FC, and the car was on a decent pass when it banged the Burst panel into the injector keeping the Throttle wide open for almost 2 seconds past the finish line! I thought the car was half-way to Tucson, but apparently Scott was somehow able to get it stopped and finished out his testing for the weekend. But when ESPN showed the fans walking around the Kalitta pits, it reminded me SOO much of Indy '96 when Blaine Johnson was killed! You walk around thinking about life in general, and the fact that these drivers do what they do not only because they love the sport
mike
Nitro Member
What to say? It's really kicking in now and hurting bad. To think this time last year I was lucky enough to be around Scott, James (Grubnics crew chief) and Wife Sherri, The Cowboys, Will, JR Tood some of the Worsham camp and Tindle's PM crew, all just kicking back long after the race had finished and having a laugh. I felt so lucky and in awe to be around that group that day. One year later Scott's taken from us all
For some reason today I keep getting this image in my head of Scott and Cory Mac with Steve Evens in 1993 at the top end, grabbing each other and screaming to each other about their new records, that is the image of the type of racer Scott was and the image Ill always remember of him.
We have lost someone very special.
To the Kalitta family, and friends, my deepest thoughts and love are with you all, as well as my prayers.
Godspeed Scott.
It's really kicking in now and hurting bad. To think this time last year I was lucky enough to be around Scott, James (Grubnics crew chief) and Wife Sherri, The Cowboys, Will, JR Tood some of the Worsham camp and Tindle's PM crew, all just kicking back long after the race had finished and having a laugh. I felt so lucky and in awe to be around that group that day. One year later Scott's taken from us all For some reason today I keep getting this image in my head of Scott and Cory Mac with Steve Evens in 1993 at the top end, grabbing each other and screaming to each other about their new records, that is the image of the type of racer Scott was and the image Ill always remember of him.
We have lost someone very special.
To the Kalitta family, and friends, my deepest thoughts and love are with you all, as well as my prayers.
Godspeed Scott.
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