DRAG NEWS (Updated Daily)

NHRA SHORTENS RACE DISTANCE FOR TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR CLASSES TO 1,000 FEET AS INTERIM SAFETY STEP WHILE KALITTA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.

This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams.  NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week.

With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet.

Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip.

In the wake of the tragic series of events that took Kalitta’s life, the following technical issues are currently under investigation: 1) what might be done to reduce engine failures; 2) parachute mounting techniques and materials as well as identifying a parachute material that could be more fire resistant; 3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body; 4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles; 5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.

 “The board members of the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) wholeheartedly and unanimously support this decision,” said its president Kenny Bernstein.  “We want to thank NHRA for listening to our input and suggestions to incorporate these changes.  It is not lost on any of us that this constitutes a change in our history of running a quarter-mile, but it’s the most immediate adjustment we can make in the interest of safety which is foremost on everyone’s mind.  This may be a temporary change and we recognize it is not the total answer.  We will continue to work hand in hand with NHRA to evaluate other methods of making Top Fuel and Funny Car competition safer so that we might return to our quarter-mile racing standard. We also want to thank Connie Kalitta for his invaluable input. He has been a rock through these difficult times.”

Ashley sells his interest in Funny Car team to focus on family and business

June 28, 2008

MELVILLE, New York - On Thursday, June 26, reigning US Nationals champion Mike Ashley sold his interest in the Gotham City Racing nitro Funny Car team to his partner, ProCare Rx Chairman and CEO Roger Burgess. Citing the exponential growth of Lend America and the desire to spend more time with his family, Ashley said he made the tough decision to do what he thought was best for the team.

Funny Car Drivers Melanie Troxel and Gary Scelzi Disqualified

June 28, 2008

Funny Car drivers Melanie Troxel and Gary Scelzi were both disqualified for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, after NHRA Tech Officials found loose ballast in their cars during inspection following the day’s first qualifying session. According to NHRA rules, any car determined to have loose ballast during or following a run results in immediate event disqualification. Melanie Troxel and Gary Scelzi were not happy with the ruling, but rules are rules, and they are established to keep the playing field fair and safe for everybody involved.

NHRA RELEASES INITIAL FINDINGS FROM TRAGEDY AT ENGLISHTOWN; ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES MOVING FORWARD

GLENDORA, Calif. (June 27, 2008) – While still conducting its investigation into the details of last week’s tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today some of its initial findings and subsequent steps being taken to continue its efforts to make the sport safer.

The loss of Scott Kalitta, a passionate champion driver and devoted family man, still weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone at NHRA, as we reflect on his many accomplishments and pass along our deepest condolences to his wife Kathy, his sons Corey and Colin, his father Connie, his cousin Doug, the entire Kalitta family and team, and all those he left behind.

It has been determined that a tragic series of events took place that fateful afternoon. An engine explosion near the end of the run resulted in separating most of the car’s body from the chassis. The car’s parachutes did not blossom, and the vehicle continued down the right side of the shut down area at a high rate of speed.  It went off the top end of the track, up into the right catch net pole, and hit the television camera boom beyond the end of the sand trap before coming to a rest.

This sequence of events resulted in the passing of the two-time world champion and veteran second-generation driver.

The New Jersey State Police investigation team was on site the same day, working with NHRA officials as both conducted their investigation. Once it becomes available, NHRA will analyze the State Police report for any additional information on the incident. NHRA also continued its own investigation by bringing mechanical engineer and accident reconstruction expert David McCandless, M.S. M.E., P.E., to the site.  McCandless is an independent engineer with more than 15 years of experience in reconstructing vehicular accidents. McCandless worked with NHRA officials, members of the Kalitta race team, and officers from the New Jersey State Police accident investigation team on site.  McCandless examined and analyzed the vehicle, the track and other data, and his investigation is still underway. The Delphi technical team and Ford recovered and are analyzing the “Blue Box” data recorder data and NHRA is using this data and analysis in its investigation.

After its preliminary investigation, NHRA identified several areas to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport’s long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with race cars traveling a quarter mile at more than 300 mph.

Technical Issues to be Investigated

Engine failure: NHRA, working with the Kalitta race team, has examined the engine, and will work with the Kalitta team and other teams to analyze what might be done to reduce such incidents in the future.

Parachute materials: Since the parachutes did not blossom, NHRA will work with parachute manufacturers and suppliers and SFI to analyze parachute mounting techniques and materials.  Even though fire does not appear to have prevented the chutes from blossoming in this situation, NHRA also will work with manufacturers and suppliers to identify a parachute material that could be more fire resistant.

Brakes: Research will be conducted to explore whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body.

Shutdown Area: In light of this tragic incident, NHRA is looking into the shutdown area.  NHRA has requested data from FIA regarding design and make-up of runoff areas in other forms of motorsports to see if it has any useful application to the unique forces in drag racing.  Together with the racing community and outside groups, NHRA will research and analyze catch nets and restraint devices that are used in other applications, including military applications. In addition, NHRA will analyze additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles, given the speed, mass and other factors synonymous with NHRA drag racing.

Speed: NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to keep speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip. NHRA is considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.  To analyze this issue NHRA will develop a task force that also includes members of the racing community to evaluate how to reduce the speed of Top Fuel and Funny Car vehicles.

NHRA will continue to seek and welcome input from race teams on these and other issues in the coming weeks and months ahead. NHRA will release additional information from its ongoing investigation as it becomes available, as well as provide updates on the recently announced initiatives.

SOURCE:NHRA

Scott Kalitta

Scott Kalitta (February 18, 1962 – June 21, 2008) was an American drag racer who competed in the Funny Car class in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Powerade Drag Racing Series. He was killed in Englishtown, New Jersey, after an accident during qualifying. He had 17 career Top Fuel wins and 1 career Funny Car win, and at his death he was one of fourteen drivers to win in both divisions.

Kalitta was son to veteran NHRA driver and crew chief Connie Kalitta and cousin to teammate Doug Kalitta.

Personal life

He made his home in Snead Island, Florida, with wife, Kathy and two sons, Colin (8) and Corey (14). He was a native of Mount Clemens, Michigan.

Career

Scott Kalitta's career began in the 1982 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. His first career #1 qualifier happened at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana event in 1988. He made his first win in 1989 at the NHRA's premiere series by taking the Funny Car event in Houston, Texas.

He would move to Top Fuel during the 1990s. Kalitta won his first event in this class at Topeka, Kansas in 1993, when he set a national speed record of 308.64 miles per hour (496.71 km/h) at that race for the win.

The next two years were big for Kalitta, as he would win the Top Fuel championship both years. In 1994, he became the first Top Fuel driver to have four straight event wins (Columbus, Topeka, Denver and Sonoma) and he won five events that season. He won six events and 45 rounds of competition in 1995 to win the championship. His 1996 season saw him win the $100,000 Budweiser Shootout at Sonoma on his way to a second place points finish. He had the top speed at a series best eight races that season. Kalitta won the Topeka event for a fourth straight year in 1997. He retired in October of that season.

Kalitta came back in 1999, making one final round in ten starts. Kalitta returned to Top Fuel in 2003 after a three year layoff. He made two final rounds and set a speed record at 333.95 miles per hour (537.44 km/h), but didn't certify the speed with a fast enough backup run to claim the national record. In 2004 he recorded one win in two final round appearances. He was the top qualified at both Las Vegas event, and finished in the Top five in season points. His 2005 season saw him win two events.

For 2006, Kalitta returned to Funny Car in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, but did not have as much success as he had in Top Fuel the previous two years. In the season, Kalitta drove his Kalitta Air-sponsored Monte Carlo and Solara (which he switched to late in the year) to a thirteenth place points finish, well behind eventual champion John Force.

Kalitta's 2007 Funny Car season was rather uneventful, as he qualified for 16 of 23 events in his DHL-sponsored Solara and missed the inaugural NHRA Countdown to the Championship. His best finish of the season was a semi-finals appearance at Denver in July. In 2008, he made his 36th and last final round appearance at Chicago, two weeks before his death.

Tragic Accident That Ended Scott’s Life

On June 21, 2008, Kalitta was fatally injured during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Kalitta’s Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when the engine exploded into flames near the finish line. The parachutes were damaged and failed to slow the vehicle. Kalitta's vehicle went through a sand trap at the end of the track, cleared a fence that normally would stop the car, and impacted a concrete-filled post that supports the safety net. Kalitta was transported to the Old Bridge Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The NHRA said on Kalitta's passing that “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 very long 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."

At the time his vehicle exploded, Kalitta had already qualified for the following days National event in the funny car class. The next day, at what would have been his opening elimination round event, his team stood on the starting line on his side of the dragstrip as Robert Hight, who would have been his opponent, idled his car down the quarter-mile track out of respect.

TOP EIGHT PRO STOCK DRIVERS RACE FOR BONUS CASH IN K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE

NORWALK, Ohio -- Greg Anderson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1 seed for the fifth year in a row as the lucrative race-within-a-race bonus event takes center stage June 28 during the second annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

A purse of $76,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the 24th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge. The winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge will earn $50,000. The runner-up will earn $10,000, the two semifinalists $3,000 each, and the four first-round finishers $2,500 apiece.

Anderson, from Charlotte, N.C., qualified No. 1 at six of the 24 NHRA POWERade Series events where drivers could earn K&N Horsepower Challenge points. It is Anderson’s sixth career appearance in the special event.

The $148,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge showcases the eight best Pro Stock qualifiers during a 24-race span between the 2007 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, and 2008 Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Besides the $76,000 available in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, bonuses of $72,000 were paid to quick Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the 24-race K&N Horsepower Challenge series.

Drivers accumulated points during qualifying at those events, and a $3,000 bonus was awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each race.

This year's K&N Horsepower Challenge field features five of the bonus event’s 10 past winners. Top seed Anderson, who won the event in 2004 and ‘06, will face three-time Challenge qualifier Ron Krisher in the opening round. No. 2 qualifier Allen Johnson will make his fifth appearance in the race against three-time winner Warren Johnson. Defending winner Kurt Johnson, who also won the race three other times, will face ’05 winner Dave Connolly. Jason Line, a two-time runner-up in the bonus event, will face two-time winner Jeg Coughlin.

Other past winners of the K&N Horsepower Challenge include Larry Morgan, Bruce Allen, Bob Glidden, Darrell Alderman and Jim Yates.

K&N Horsepower Challenge rounds are scheduled for noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on June 28.

2008 K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 3,600

2. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus 3,415

3. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt 3,330

4. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 3,245

5. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt 3,105

6. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt 2,925

7. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., GM Performance Parts Pontiac GXP 2,770

8. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt 2,620

2008 K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE ROUND PAIRINGS:

FIRST ROUND (Noon): Anderson vs. Krisher; Line vs. Coughlin; A. Johnson vs. W. Johnson; K. Johnson vs. Connolly.

SEMIFINALS (2 p.m.): Anderson-Krisher winner vs. Line-Coughlin winner; A. Johnson-W. Johnson winner vs. K. Johnson-Connolly winner.

FINAL (4 p.m.)

Funny Car Accident That Tragically Took Scott Kalitta’s Life

June 21, 2008

On June 21, 2008, Kalitta was killed when his Toyota Solara Funny Car burst into flames and crashed during the 4th and final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Kalitta’s car was traveling at around 300 miles per hour when the engine of his funny car exploded into flames.

Slow-motion replay of the run shows something goes wrong with the engine as the exhaust on the left side of the car appears amiss. When the engine let go, it exploded creating a gigantic fireball and breaking the car body into thirds around the hood and windshield area. The body lifted off the car in flames and flew back as the car continued down the track. Replay shows a continued fire as the car slowed greatly but not enough. The parachutes were twisted and did little to stop the car. The car continued down the track, went through the sand, over some dirt, through a fence, and hit the wall shooting the car into the air into many pieces. An immediate fireball enveloped the car; parts landed in the woods and some parts appear to have landed on the camera tower. Heated fragments scorched some of the trees in the woods.

The NHRA said on Kalitta's passing that “Scott shared the same passion for drag and 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 very long 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."

Scott Kalitta 1962-2008

June 21, 2008

Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta succumbs to injuries suffered in a qualifying accident in final round of qualifying Saturday at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals. Scott was 46. Our condolences go out to the Kalitta family and friends.

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