Remembering Scott Kalitta
Written by David Lamm · June 24, 2008
By now you have probably heard of the unfortunate and tragic passing of NHRA champion driver Scott Kalitta. Kalitta not only was blessed with one of the most famous last names in all of drag racing, he was also a superb driver and proved it on the track again and again. A two time champion in the Top Fuel category, Scott Kalitta walked away from full-time racing to do what many of wish we all could do. Kalitta stepped away from racing to spend more time with those that he loved more than racing; his wife and children. As I have tried before with Darrell Russell, Eric Medlen and most recently Al Hofmann, I will do my best to remember a racer whom I knew briefly. Now that he is gone I am regretful I did not know him better.
NHRA.com: Scott Kalitta Special Rembrance Section
Yahoo! News: NHRA driver Kalitta killed in horrific crash
CBS Sportsline: Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA crash during qualifying
Auto Blog: NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying
CompetitionPlus.com: RACERS MOURN KALITTA
Unfortunately my contact with Scott Kalitta was quite limited while I was working for the NHRA’s media department. I was hired by the NHRA in May 1999. By that time Kalitta had already won his two championships and had already stepped away from drag racing to spend time with his family. Quite admirable in my opinion to leave something you love but now that I have a family of my own, I can respect and admire that decision even more.
My first introduction to Scott Kalitta was in Brainderd, Minn. in 1999 when he had come out of retirement to run a limited, 10-race schedule in Top Fuel. Although my contact with Scott Kalitta was brief, I will never forget it. The only extended conversation I had with him was the short golf cart ride from the pits to the press room and back. Although the time I spent with Scott Kalitta one-on-one was brief I am grateful I had that time.
I remember that one race in Brainerd during eliminations both Scott and Doug Kalitta had advanced to face each other head to head. After both cars successfully did their burnouts and backed up, Scott’s car was brought to the pre-stage beam. Doug’s car was brought up to the pre-stage beam and then Connie Kalitta gave the order to shut off the dragster Scott was driving. Most racers would be livid about following team orders and getting shut off. Not Scott. Scott knew his role in the grand scheme of things and calmly exited the cockpit of the car and climbed into the return vehicle.
The golf cart ride I had mentioned occurred at the following race. If memory serves me correctly, Scott Kalitta was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday night and I was assigned to retrieve Kalitta from the pits and bring him up to the media center to give an interview. On the ride there I asked Scott what he thought of getting shut off and not having a chance to race his cousin. Scott was stoic in his answer. “I understand why I am out here and that is to help Doug win a championship. I’ve won my share of races and I have won my championships. Shutting me off only helps Doug and that is what I am here for.”
Kalitta didn’t say those words in a cocky or self-absorbed manner but rather as a statement of fact. He was right. He and his car were racing for R&D purposes and to help the team. Coming in late in the season, Kalitta was way too far behind to have a chance at the championship. But as admirable as it was to step aside in favor of his teammate, I knew deep down Scott would have loved to have raced heads up. That’s what true racers and true champions do. They race. Knowing this I am sure others in the NHRA family can rest assured that we all know Scott Kalitta died doing what he loved to do.
There is no way I can properly eulogize Scott Kalitta because I did not know him well enough. Our contact was very brief and in passing for the most part. I will say he never really opened up or went out of his way to meet me or my fellow co-workers. Then again, the man had earned our respect just by virtue of winning consecutive Top Fuel championships. When Scott Kalitta entered a room there was a certain air about him and the feeling in the room changed. You just knew you were in the presence of someone whom had accomplished something none of us would ever achieve. That was being a champion.
Some champions go out of their way to remind you of their accomplishments. Scott Kalitta was not one of them. He knew that those that understood the history of drag racing would know his name and it was not because he had a famous drag racing father. It was because he himself was a champion.
Scott Kalitta will truly be missed. Rest in peace, Scott. You were and always will be the true definition of a champion.
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Scott was a true champion and will be missed. I pray for all his family.
[…] up, the Western Swing is about to start and the drag racing community was shocked last week by the tragic death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta (preliminary findings about the Englishtown crash were released […]