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NHRA driver Kalitta dies after fiery crash in New Jersey
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — A day after Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed in a qualifying accident, five-time world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first Top Fuel win in 12 tries at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.
The event was overshadowed by the death of Kalitta. He died from multiple injuries after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday. His Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta — the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car — was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Kalitta’s Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as “The Bounty Hunter,” and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
“We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family,” the NHRA said in a statement. “Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community.”
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family’s two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta’s last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He’s survived by his father, wife Kathy; and sons, Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.
“With the passing of Scott Kalitta yesterday, today’s race was extremely tough to get through from an emotional standpoint. But we managed to take care of business like Scott would have wanted us to,” Schumacher said.
Schumacher had a 4.589-second run at 325.06 to defeat Brandon Bernstein for his 46th win, moving him within six of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins ever.
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson and Chip Ellis also won in their divisions.
In Funny Car, Wilkerson drove his Chevy Impala SS to a 4.877 at 319.29 to edge Mike Neff.
Greg Anderson drove his Pontiac GXP to his third win of the season, posting a time of 7.520 at 200.23, which proved strong enough to get past runner-up Dave Connolly.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis was able to ride his Suzuki past No. 1 qualifier Chris Rivas to pick up his sixth career win. Ellis ran a 7.040 at 187.21.
Edwards wins Nationwide race
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Carl Edwards decided not to do his trademark backflip in victory lane Saturday night, choosing a more subdued celebration because of drag racer Scott Kalitta’s death earlier in the day.
Edwards also said the fact that he wasn’t proud of the way he shoved Clint Bowyer aside to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Milwaukee Mile contributed to his somber mood.
“Today, what happened to Mr. Kalitta, and the way I passed Clint, I just didn’t feel like doing a backflip,” Edwards said.
While the sentiment honoring Kalitta seemed sincere, Bowyer wasn’t exactly buying Edwards’ expression of remorse for the move that ended up winning the race.
Asked if it mattered that Edwards expressed remorse, Bowyer’s brooding, silent stare said it all: Yeah, right.
“We got up to where we needed to be, and unfortunately it got taken from us,” Bowyer said.
Edwards knocked Bowyer sideways with 25 laps to go, then held off young lion Joey Logano for his first Nationwide victory of the season after dominating the series last year.
Massa wins French Grand Prix
MAGNY COURS, France — Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and moved to the top of the overall standings after his third F1 victory of the season.
Massa overtook teammate and pole sitter Kimi Raikkonen with 32 laps to go and held on to win by 17.9 seconds. It’s the second consecutive Ferrari sweep at the Circuit de Nevers.
Massa leads the title race with 48 points — two points ahead of Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber, who finished fifth. Raikkonen trails Massa by five points in third.
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli finished third ahead of McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen, who had started 10th after a five-place qualifying penalty. Teammate Lewis Hamilton’s frustrating day was compounded by an extra penalty that left him out of the points in 10th. The British driver trails Massa by 10 points.
GOLF
Cink takes PGAtitle
CROMWELL, Conn. — Stewart Cink held off Tommy Armour III and defending champion Hunter Mahan to win the Travelers Championship by a stroke. With his fifth career victory, Cink was projected to go to a career-high No. 6 in the world ranking.
Cink, also the 1997 winner at TPC River Highlands, shot a 3-under 67 — following rounds of 66, 64 and 65 — to finish at 18-under 262 for his first victory since 2004.
Armour (65) and Mahan (65) tied for second.
Ji captures firts LPGAwin
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Eun-Hee Ji won the Wegmans LPGA for her first LPGA Tour title, rallying to beat Suzann Pettersen by two strokes.
The South Korean shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 16-under 272 on the tricky Locust Hill course. A 22-year-old in her second year on the tour, Ji finished second to Pettersen in South Korea in October in the Kolon Championship.
Sluman wins on Champions Tour
CONCORD, Mass. — Jeff Sluman won the Bank of America Championship for his first Champions Tour title, finishing off an 8-under 64 with a 34-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a two-stroke victory over Loren Roberts.
Sluman birdied three of the last four holes and finished at 17-under 199 total. The 64 was the best final round by a winner on the tour this year. Roberts shot a 67.
Joh captures PubLinx title
ERIN, Wis. — UCLA star Tiffany Joh won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links for the second time in three years, rallying to win four of the last six holes Saturday for a 2-and-1 victory over Southern California recruit Jennifer Song.
Joh, from San Diego, the 2006 winner at Walking Stick in Pueblo, Colo., is the fifth two-time winner in the 32-year history of the USGA event.
The event was overshadowed by the death of Kalitta. He died from multiple injuries after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday. His Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta — the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car — was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Kalitta’s Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as “The Bounty Hunter,” and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
“We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family,” the NHRA said in a statement. “Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community.”
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family’s two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta’s last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He’s survived by his father, wife Kathy; and sons, Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.
“With the passing of Scott Kalitta yesterday, today’s race was extremely tough to get through from an emotional standpoint. But we managed to take care of business like Scott would have wanted us to,” Schumacher said.
Schumacher had a 4.589-second run at 325.06 to defeat Brandon Bernstein for his 46th win, moving him within six of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins ever.
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson and Chip Ellis also won in their divisions.
In Funny Car, Wilkerson drove his Chevy Impala SS to a 4.877 at 319.29 to edge Mike Neff.
Greg Anderson drove his Pontiac GXP to his third win of the season, posting a time of 7.520 at 200.23, which proved strong enough to get past runner-up Dave Connolly.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis was able to ride his Suzuki past No. 1 qualifier Chris Rivas to pick up his sixth career win. Ellis ran a 7.040 at 187.21.
Edwards wins Nationwide race
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Carl Edwards decided not to do his trademark backflip in victory lane Saturday night, choosing a more subdued celebration because of drag racer Scott Kalitta’s death earlier in the day.
Edwards also said the fact that he wasn’t proud of the way he shoved Clint Bowyer aside to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Milwaukee Mile contributed to his somber mood.
“Today, what happened to Mr. Kalitta, and the way I passed Clint, I just didn’t feel like doing a backflip,” Edwards said.
While the sentiment honoring Kalitta seemed sincere, Bowyer wasn’t exactly buying Edwards’ expression of remorse for the move that ended up winning the race.
Asked if it mattered that Edwards expressed remorse, Bowyer’s brooding, silent stare said it all: Yeah, right.
“We got up to where we needed to be, and unfortunately it got taken from us,” Bowyer said.
Edwards knocked Bowyer sideways with 25 laps to go, then held off young lion Joey Logano for his first Nationwide victory of the season after dominating the series last year.
Massa wins French Grand Prix
MAGNY COURS, France — Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and moved to the top of the overall standings after his third F1 victory of the season.
Massa overtook teammate and pole sitter Kimi Raikkonen with 32 laps to go and held on to win by 17.9 seconds. It’s the second consecutive Ferrari sweep at the Circuit de Nevers.
Massa leads the title race with 48 points — two points ahead of Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber, who finished fifth. Raikkonen trails Massa by five points in third.
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli finished third ahead of McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen, who had started 10th after a five-place qualifying penalty. Teammate Lewis Hamilton’s frustrating day was compounded by an extra penalty that left him out of the points in 10th. The British driver trails Massa by 10 points.
GOLF
Cink takes PGAtitle
CROMWELL, Conn. — Stewart Cink held off Tommy Armour III and defending champion Hunter Mahan to win the Travelers Championship by a stroke. With his fifth career victory, Cink was projected to go to a career-high No. 6 in the world ranking.
Cink, also the 1997 winner at TPC River Highlands, shot a 3-under 67 — following rounds of 66, 64 and 65 — to finish at 18-under 262 for his first victory since 2004.
Armour (65) and Mahan (65) tied for second.
Ji captures firts LPGAwin
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Eun-Hee Ji won the Wegmans LPGA for her first LPGA Tour title, rallying to beat Suzann Pettersen by two strokes.
The South Korean shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 16-under 272 on the tricky Locust Hill course. A 22-year-old in her second year on the tour, Ji finished second to Pettersen in South Korea in October in the Kolon Championship.
Sluman wins on Champions Tour
CONCORD, Mass. — Jeff Sluman won the Bank of America Championship for his first Champions Tour title, finishing off an 8-under 64 with a 34-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a two-stroke victory over Loren Roberts.
Sluman birdied three of the last four holes and finished at 17-under 199 total. The 64 was the best final round by a winner on the tour this year. Roberts shot a 67.
Joh captures PubLinx title
ERIN, Wis. — UCLA star Tiffany Joh won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links for the second time in three years, rallying to win four of the last six holes Saturday for a 2-and-1 victory over Southern California recruit Jennifer Song.
Joh, from San Diego, the 2006 winner at Walking Stick in Pueblo, Colo., is the fifth two-time winner in the 32-year history of the USGA event.
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