RIP Scott Kalitta

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• Oh my god. That is so horrible

• A super talent and really nice guy.
  I was lucky enough to see him in action when he came out to Aus for a visit. He simply blew everyone away.
  RIP mate.

• wow. that was def disturbing to watch.. his poor family.

• No, he didn’t deserve it, but unlike you, yes, I am blaming him. When you opt to have kids there are some things you give up. You just do. Like driving real fast, sharing needles with HIV positive people, manufacturing meth out of your basement, fucking around with poisonous stingrays and playing Russian roulette unless all the chambers are empty. If you don’t, you are nothing but a selfish asshole and most fathers, myself included, have discovered ways of being selfish assholes that aren’t necessarily life threatening.

• > “it’s kind of bullshit that the network’s airing it. I kind of do too.”

  That’s why I am reposting for you all to see. Enjoy.

• I feel bad for his family.

• Wow, Chris, quite the role model you are there. Overly judgemental much? I would imagine Scott didn’t use dirty needles, fuck around with stingrays, cook meth, nor drive fast on the freeway for the hell of it. Best make sure all those damned bus driver’s park and walk, the Amtrak engineers need to sit it down as well, and oh, yeah, those airline pilots….stupid fucks…risking hundreds of lives, many fathers, each and everytime they go up in the air.

  Sheesh. While I get the kernel of your point it could be made with a bit less derision for a man who’s family is now without him, a man who wasn’t out hurting others but following his dream.

  And yes, it’s shitty and sadistic to show the wreck, especially within such a short time of the man’s death. But, the media is a whore, looking for the biggest payoff.

• @yeah,

  okay, I was a little hard on the guy. But following his dream? He was forty-six years old and won championships in the mid-90’s. By 2008, his dreams had been followed and maybe it was time to wake up. At forty-six, I think he was simply stroking his ego. His kids are eight and four—figure that he could have gone out on top on the day his oldest son was born, settled down with a reasonable bank account and likely watched his boys graduate high school. Now he can follow his dreams into eternity.

• Totally agree with Chris. If the dumbass didn’t want his death shown on national television, perhaps he shouldn’t have been racing on TV. It’s all part of the game that HE participated in.

• Darwin won.

• scott died doing exactlly what he loved to do. he knew the risks, just like every single drag racer out there. he knew he could possibly die doing what he loved to do. it is extremely sad that he has left behind his sons and his wife, but they know scott was doing exactly what he loved to do. he was not stroking his ego. do any of you do things you love to do? unless you watch and understand drag racing be careful what comments you make about the sport and the drivers. yes what they do is dangerous and they know it, each and every one of them know it. i don’t blame scott one bit for his accident. nhra showed this tragic event so there would be no speculation of what caused the accident.
  what happened to the katilla family is tragic may SCOTT KATILLA REST IN PEACE. for us drag racing fans we know that scott loved doing what he loved to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• “Sorry kids, daddy’s just doing what he loves to do. See you in the next life!”

• I would leave a pertinent comment, but I don’t believe that you would get it.

• I really don’t think I could give a shit about this story if I took an entire box of ex-lax.

  George Carlin died yesterday.

• Hmmmmm…………..so anyone with a negitive comment here a drag racer? Ever compete or participate in any way? Scott, his father and his cousin ALL drive (dad used to but now is an owner). Yep, it’s a dangerous sport but to the Kalitta’s and many others like them it is their JOB. Yes, it isn’t a hobby or just something to spend money on, it is their JOB.

  They love doing it, they are good at it but sometimes shit happens. Those here that say “he’s selfish”…………..OK, any of you like Pro Football? How about hunting? How about WWE Wrestling? How about Ice Road Truckers? How about skydiving? Should I go on?

  So don’t judge a man for his choosen profession or sport or hobby until you walk a mile in his shoes. Yeah, you can say what you want like he’s selfish, he’s an asshole but to the racing community (not just drag racing) he will be missed, we pray for his family and the NHRA family will take care of their own.

  If you don’t like drag racing or auto racing of any kind, that’s just fine. I totally understand and respect you for that. If this is truely the case then I don’t beleive we fucking care what you think about Scott Kalitta. I have met the man, I have met his father, Conrad (Connie) and cousin, Doug. I have met many racers over the many years of my involvement and participation in drag racing and stock car racing. Racers are a family and love their families. They are great people. They are generous and caring and giving people.

  Thank You all for your time while I express my opinion along with the others. I don’t need anyone to respond to or rebut my comments. I just thank you all for your time.

  Scott Kallita……………God Speed and Rest in Peace.

  Dave

• “Those here that say “he’s selfish”…………..OK, any of you like Pro Football? How about hunting? How about WWE Wrestling? How about Ice Road Truckers? How about skydiving? Should I go on?”

  No. No. No. No. No. and NO!

  Have to have the last word, don’t you Dave? Well I don’t care about your needs and I can respond if I want to.

• awwh we soooooo love you scott nd we will remember those days we went to support u at ur

• Got Marshmallows?

• Yep. And graham crackers!

• Thanks for doing a cut and paste of just part of my blog. You’re awesome. I don’t need the last word. If you read my blog again, you will notice something that you seem to ignore. Respect and politeness.

  I expressed my opinion just to express it. I didn’t intend to hurt your feelings. Apparently only your opinions count. You are always right and anyone that disagrees with you is wrong. Once again, I am part of that life. If you’re not or you don’t like that lifestyle, thats fine. Why do you need to comment on something you know nothing about.

  You think auto racing is wrong, fine. Do not judge a man that thinks different. You feel he’s a bad father for losing his life doing what he chooses to do. That’s odd.

  Do you ever think that driving to your job every morning is a risk? Highways are a dangerous place. Hundreds of people die daily on the public highways. Are you a dumbass for driving to work everyday on the highways. “Sorry kids………………..” Unbelievable!

  Dave

• Gotta live life to the fullest. I salute anyone who does what they really love in life. Especially if they can turn it into their career.

  I agree with Dave’s post completely. Part of being human (for some) is doing ridiculous things that push our bodies and minds to the limit.

• I don’t have kids, but isn’t the point of living to have the most fulfilling, happy life that you can possibly have? You only get one. Kids do require some sacrifices, but when I see parents living miserable lives “for the sake of the kids” (especially a man who’s unhappy in his marriage but is sticking it out until the kids are older-that breaks my heart) that doesn’t seem to be right either.

  The goal of life shouldn’t be to reproduce. It should be to be happy. Because if you’re not happy, what’s the point of bringing children into an unhappy world? Then your kids follow your example and are unhappy and reproduce themselves, and the cycle just continues. What a sucky world that would be.

• Sad that this thread has twice the number of posts compared to George Carlin’s. :(

• EXPERIMENTAL CHIMP SAYS (translated): munkee think you funny. munkee think not true when you say you sorry. munkee think you like sad. munkee say you always rite mean. munkee think you maybe sorry someday about bad words. munkee glad not you. munkee not bite now. munkee wait till you turn around. munkee rub self now and grin.

• Hey Donkey Punch. I do agree. I got into this to express my thoughts about a great drag racer. That being said, Carlin was awesome. The wife and I saw him two years ago. He said he was clean and sober and he was a friggin’ riot. The man’s mind was a true work of art.

  If you look at all the posts here and take out the snide and rude one’s, it’s more than likely about a tie with posts. George and Scott will be sorely missed by those who really enjoyed what they contributed.

  Dave

• Some of you are just completely insensitive and ignorant idiots.
  Thank you Dave for your polite disortation as it pointed out a lot of the things that need to brought to everyone’s attention.

  Besides that, my two younger brothers have been racing cars for 12 years and I have been an avid fan of theirs the entire time. While they race cars that only go 180 MPH on ovals, the danger is just as real. Yes, the sport is dangerous, but there are countless safety precautions taken, included the way the tracks are designed, the harness system, an ambulance close by at all times, etc. Every single death/injury that I have witnesses has occured as a result of one of these safety precautions either going awry or not having been implemented at all. NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE regardless. Not only have my brothers received college scholarships and been accepted to a prestigious mechanical engineering program at Purdue for their accomplishments in racing, they also have learned numerous life lessons throughout their careers that they might have not learned had they not been involved in the sport. In fact, it is theorized that INDIVIDUAL sports can boost one’s self-esteem and improve one’s overall quality of life and sense of accomplishment. For many of these children invovled, it evolves from just a sport to an actual career. THEREFORE, I don’t understand why people aren’t balking about people who allow their children to be electricians, for example, and other various dangerous careers. It is really just something one could not understand unless they have spent their lives in that environment. But to ease all of the upset people, I do disagree that it is wrong when parents see their children horribly injured in the sport of racing and force them to continue for their own agendas. I have witnessed this first hand and not only is it disgusting, but it tends to make the situation even more dangerous when the child is being forced into a sport. This however, contrasts to people such as my brothers, who actually continued the sport even when my parent’s could no longer afford it, and have to work for everything that they do.

• I’M GLAD THEY SHOWED THE VIDEO. I AM A DIEHARD DRAG RACING FAN. SEVERAL FACTORS ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEADLY RESULT OF THIS CRASH. I SLOWED THE VIDEO DOWN TO 1/10 SPEED AND MY OPINION IS THAT THE MAJOR FACTOR INTO THE CAUSE OF SUCH DEVISTATION WAS THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL CURVING AROUND THE END OF THE TOO SHORT SHUTDOWN AREA. THE CAMERA BOOM WAS BEHIND THE WALL, SO SCOTT HAD TO HAVE HIT THE WALL. A FAMILY CAR GOING THE SPEED LIMIT WOULD NOT SURVIVE THAT. I THINK THE NHRA IS SHUNING THIS TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY. IF THAT WALL WAS NOT THERE WITH OPEN LAND PAST THE SHUTDOWN AREA, A GOOD CHANCE SCOTT WOULD HAVE SURVIVED.

• Hey Nightro, I (and the NHRA) beleive he hit the right concrete catch net support. The wall is behind that but you are right, either concrete piece would have caused the fatality. Oh, just so you know, on the other side of that wall is Pension Rd. and on the beyond that is woods. The wall is there to retain cars from entering the public road.

  I’m sure you have seen that starting with the Denver event, TF and FC are gonna run 1000′, which is 320′ less than they now run. So you’ll see quicker ET’s and still 300 MPH runs. This is a temp., short-term answer and the drivers are very happy. What is the final answer…..who knows.

  It’s unfortunate this happened but these things bring change for the good. Several traffic accidents at an intersection eventually become addressed with a stop light but how many accidents does it take?

  The NHRA has really worked hard on this. Many inovations will come out of this as well. I know one team is developing a system that deploys the ‘chutes when the burst panel comes out on the blower. Cool stuff. Keep supporting the sport and all those involved.

  Dave