Drag racer Scott Kalitta Killed.

DonMan said:

Is Connie Kalitta his dad or uncle ?

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Very Sad! RIP

Kalitta's synonymous with drag racingby FOXSports.com



Updated: June 22, 2008, 12:35 AM EST add this RSS blog email print The Kalitta family is well known in NHRA and the motorsports world. Here's a brief look at their accomplishments.

Conrad Kalitta
"Connie" Kalitta is the definition of a self-made racer, starting his career in the 1950s and running as late as 1999. Although he has 10 NHRA national event victories between 1967 and 1994, he may be better known as the first driver to hit 200 mph in an NHRA sanctioned event and as the crew chief for Shirley Muldowney when she captured the 1977 Top Fuel title — becoming the first female to win an NHRA championship.

"The Bounty Hunter" was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of American in 1992 and was named one of the top 50 NHRA drivers in 2001.

Outside of racing, Conrad is the CEO of Kalitta Air — a cargo airline.

Doug Kalitta

Doug, the nephew of Conrad Kalitta, was the 1994 USAC National Sprint Car champion before moving over to drag racing in 1998 when he replaced cousin Scott Kalitta. In his first season, Doug won the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award.

To date, Doug has finished second in the POWERade Top Fuel championship standings three times (2003, 2004 and 2006) and has 30 career wins.

Scott Kalitta

Son of the legendary Conrad Kalitta, Scott made his own name in NHRA. His career began in Top Fuel dragsters in 1982 before moving to Funny Car in 1986. He would go on to win his first event driving a Funny Car at Houston in 1989.

Later on in his career, he would switch over to Top Fuel machines — a change that would lead to his most successful years. Starting in 1994, Kalitta would go on to win back-to-back season championships, claiming victory in 11 combined events during those two years.

In October 1997, Scott would retire from the sport before making a brief 10-race comeback in 1999. In 2003, he would make a second comeback and would go on to earn two victories before switching back to Funny Cars in 2006.

In total, Scott Kalitta had 18 career victories — 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car. He is one of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories.

On June 21, 2008, Kalitta's DHL Toyota Solara burst into flames during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. According to series officials, Kalitta was extracted from his car and transported to Old Bridge Township Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.