Such a tragic event that makes you feel for the Kalitta family and the drag racing fraternity as a whole. I know quite a few professional racers and things like this make you question what you are doing. But Scott checked out doing what he loved. RIP.

i hate to post to such a tragedy.. But there is a link on youtube and shows he trys to get the chutes out, but they dont open up..

Englishtown has a very short stopping area IMO.. I would trap 126-130 and would have to go to the end to stop in my 4th gen bird..

I think they need to come up with a different safety catch for tracks with shorter stopping areas.. Not sure what, but this is just horrible..


Before viewing the the link, keep in mind, that someone dies in this video..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DziJdGwFQjU

Hard to watch that link and not get emotional, so nasty... RIP.

Actually he had pulled the laundry well before the explosion. The explosion was in the traps probably at 1400 feet. They pull the shoots at about 1000 / 1100 feet since their moving 450 feet per second at that point on the track and the shoots take some time to deploy. They have brakes to, you just have to think he was not able to use them.

I do not want to see the video again!

Since almost all the engine explosions take place at the end of the track, I look for them to either shorten the track, or again take away more nitro. They have been down to 90% nitro for some years now. Maybe were ready for 85%, or a 1000 foot track which has been discussed many times. At least for funny car and top fuel.

Regardless of weather they shorten the track or not I still think they need to take away some nitro. the engines are just bombs waiting for a place to explode, and thir have been too many sensational explosions this year, most on the big end of the track. It will save the teams some money on fuel and parts, cut down oil downs and accidents, and lets face it, they are running 270 at the 660' mark, as fans, we could not tell the difference between a 330 MPH and a 300 MPH run.

JMO.

I too would look for a change to come soon. Sad it takes a tragedy for something to happen.

My heart goes out to the Kalitta family. I have to say that Robert Hight is a true gentleman. The way he took that pass was true sportmanship, honor and class. Got me all choked up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvcu9ne9zMI

Seems like the chutes might have been pulled when the body blew off. If they would have opened completely I wonder what might have happened.

Also, if you remember, they just raised the limit on nitro last year from 85% to 90%. Crew chiefs said more nitro was actually easier on parts.

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/24145.htm

Actually the chute packs are mounted on the body. So when the body blew up and came off of the chassis, the chutes deployed. I would imagine Scott was knocked out, I never saw him on the brakes at all. The problem here was a concrete pole and a concrete barrier that he hit pretty much head on. The shut down area is short and the sand trap was useless in this case. The NHRA needs to step up now and take a look at some of these tracks. He should have had a better chance at making it through this then what he had. It's just a shame that it takes the loss of a man to bring these safety issues to light. RIP Scott

Well put!

The good thing is, in the case of NHRA they will look into it and they will make rules changes very quickly.

My prayers go out to his family.

Bill