Airfreight magnate and dragracing legend connie kalitta, 77, looks back on his sometimes stormy but always highflying career. He quit racing for a time in the 1970s to focus on kalitta air, but in the 1980s he was back in the seat, and finished in the top 10 seven years in that decade. Connie kalitta nhra fan apparel and souvenirs for sale ebay. Born in mount clemens, michigan, he went on to graduate. His father, connie kalitta, the legendary driver team owner known as the bounty hunter, was his cocrew chief, along with.
Mar 11, 2020 dougs uncle, the legendary connie kalitta, won the gatornationals himself in 1994. Team kalitta owner connie kalitta released jim oberhofer from kalitta motorsports and his position as crew chief for the mac tools top fuel dragster team driven by doug kalitta, effective immediately. Unofficial nhra mello yello countdown to the championship standings. Airfreight magnate and drag racing legend connie kalitta, 77, looks back on his sometimes stormy but always highflying career. Team kalitta is expanding to a third fulltime top fuel dragster team beginning with the next event in houston. Kalitta motorsports has over 100 wins and nearly just as many times had a driver be the no. I had a great experience racing funny car the past two seasons. He was the son of comrad,connie kalitta who also raced and owned the team. In 1967, he became the only top fuel driver to have won every major drag racing associations seasonopening event by winning winter nationals staged by ahra, nhra and nascar. Kalitta was born in michigan, grew up in mount clemens, and was a 1957 graduate of mount clemens high school. Just over two weeks ago, doug won the seasonopening lucas oil nhra.
Kalitta motorsports confirms driver lineup speed sport. He grew up in mount clemens, michigan, and was a 1957 graduate of mount clemens high school. Last year, funny car driver eric medlen died after an accident in a. Super comp driver paige coughlin thrilled to earn spot in her first jegs allstars race april 9, 2020 in track racing. Kalitta motorsports 2020 nhra drag racing driver lineup. Nhra driver shawn langdon joins kalitta motorsports fox sports. Find everything in one place on connie kalitta including their biography, latest news and updates, high resolution photos, high quality videos and expert analysis. Kalitta motorsports the shop tour optima batteries. Langdons dragster will be tuned by connie kalitta and rob flynn, who previously tuned for driver troy coughlin jr.
Scott kalitta was a drag race car driver recently killed in what they called a freak accident. Conrad connie kalitta created february 24, 1938, in michigan is the ceo of kalitta air and also a retired american drag racing motorist, once called the bounty hunter. Both dragsters will also represent new associate sponsors mobil 1, ngk spark plugs, osborn and returning sponsors sealmaster and wix filters. The son of the veteran driver connie kalitta and cousin of his teammate doug kalitta, scott. Connie kalitta is celebrating his 61st season in nhra drag racing, first as a driver and then team owner and. Scott kalitta s career began in 1982 at old bridge township raceway park. He was the first driver to reach 200 miles per hour in a nhra sanctioned event. Kalitta was son of veteran nhra driver and crew chief connie kalitta, and cousin of teammate doug kalitta. His father, connie kalitta, the legendary driverteam owner known as.
He had returned to racing many years after retiring from a successful and safe career. In 1967, he became the only top fuel driver to have won every major drag racing associations seasonopening event by winning winter nationals staged by. Feb 28, 2018 connie kalitta in one of his last races as a driver in 1996. Dogged determination took kalitta from a beginner in the 1950s to a factorysponsored top fuel driver in the 1960s to a selfmade multimillionaire in airfreight and championshipwinning crew chief for shirley muldowney in the 1970s to a satisfied multichampionshipwinning car owner in the 1990s who sometimes still drove for the hell of it. Todd funny car will remain in the same posts they were in with the team in 2019, while richie crampton will.
Make offer scott kalitta kalitta air124th autographed by scott, connie,doug and chip foose 1995 scott kalitta 1. Scott kalitta had a very successful career in nhra drag racing. Apr 02, 2019 he began his racing career at old bridge township raceway park in 1982. Conrad kalitta was born on february 24, 1938 in michigan, united states. Drag racing legend connie kalitta s passion evident at the track, in the air. Nov 07, 2019 kalitta motorsports has over 100 wins and nearly just as many times had a driver be the no. Kalitta s lunch with a legend showcases nhra and michigan community. Drag racing legend connie kalittas passion evident at the track, in the air.
Kalitta motorsports the shop tour one of the perks of being a sponsor of the kalitta motorsports nhra drag racing program, is that we get to take a look behind the scenes and see some of what goes on in a toptier drag racing operation. Scott kalitta, an nhra driver who died on june 21, 2008 in a racing accident, was his cousin. Logan seavey goes back to back at knoxville with world of outlaws sprint car iracing win. As an owner and crew chief, he won nhra championships with his son twice. Auto racing nhra driver kalitta killed in fiery crash the. June 11, 2009 scott kalitta, one of nhras greatest drivers and champions, will be.
Official site of kalitta motorsports 2017 nhra mello yello. The dhl dragster will once again be led by drag racing legend connie kalitta as crew chief alongside kurt elliott. Connie kalitta, drag racing, class of 1992 his methodology has achieved winning results far more often than not. See more ideas about connie kalitta, car humor, nhra drag racing. Del worsham is leaving kalitta motorsports to rejoin his familyowned funny car team, worsham racing. Kalitta is the first ever recipient of the nhra lifetime achievement award. His cousin, doug kalitta, also drives competitively. Conrad connie kalitta born february 24, 1938, in michigan is the ceo of kalitta air and a retired american drag racing driver, once known as the bounty hunter. Kalitta started his pro career in top fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to funny car in 1986. He was the first driver to hit 200 mph in an nhra sanctioned event.
In 2016 kalitta was the recipient of the firstever nhra lifetime achievement award. Scott kalittas career began in 1982 at old bridge township raceway park. In 2017 kalitta was presented with an award by the british drag racing hall of fame recognizing him for operating one of the most successful top fuel and funny car teams in nhra history over a period of six decades. Drag racing mourns death of funny car driver for second straight. Drag racing is synonymous with the kalitta surname. Dont let his mild demeanor fool you, doug kalitta is a fierce competitor with nearly 50 nhra top fuel victories who has finished second in driver point standings five times 2003, 2004, 2006, 2014 and 2019.
He grew up in mount clemens, michigan, and was a 1957 graduate of mount clemens high. He is the coowner of kalitta charters, an airline company authorised to transport the martyred remains of soldiers. He raced from the 1950s through the 1990s with the notable accomplishment of. Apr 21, 2020 scott kalitta had a very successful career in nhra drag racing. The 46yearold california native raced the kalitta motorsports dhl funny car from 20.
Kalitta had most of his racing success in top fuel. Kalittas father is the nowdeceased doug kalitta sr. We pick the brain of dragracing legend connie kalitta. Kalitta has a wife, josie kalitta, a son mitchell kalitta, and a daughter avery kalitta. Nhra funny car driver del worsham parts ways with kalitta. Wiki biography conrad connie kalitta born february 24, 1938, in michigan is the ceo of kalitta air and a retired american drag racing driver, once known as the bounty hunter. Doug kalitta born august 20, 1964 is an american auto racing driver from ypsilanti, michigan and owner of airline kalitta charters. Conrad connie kalitta born february 24, 1938 is an american businessman and former drag racing driver, nicknamed the bounty hunter. Top team owner gene nolen passes away april 8, 2020 in track racing. Feb 24, 2020 businessman doug kalitta thrives on the dragstrip. The machine will be backed by global electronic technology with 20 top fuel world. Connie kalitta is the ceo of kalitta air and former nhra drag racer once nicknamed the bounty hunter. Drivers who have won for the organization include all four from its current lineup todd, langdon, crampton, and doug kalitta, connie, scott, and alexis dejoria to name a few.
Kalittas father, connie kalitta, was one of the sports founding fathers in the 1950s and 60s, building and driving an infamous string of. He began his racing career at old bridge township raceway park in 1982. Connie kalitta in one of his last races as a driver in 1996. Kalitta currently serves as the chief executive officer of kalitta air. Kalittas lunch with a legend showcases nhra and michigan community. Race car driver kalitta killed in crash on old bridge track nj. His father, connie kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as the bounty hunter. Nhra driver kalitta killed in crash houston chronicle. Jun 22, 2008 his father, connie kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as the bounty hunter. Growing up in mount clemens, michigan, kalitta finished his high school from mount clemens high school. See more ideas about connie kalitta, car humor and drag cars. Connie kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as the bounty hunter, and his cousin. His cousin doug kalitta is also a driver for the team. Langdon to drive third kalitta motorsports top fuel car nhra.
Kalitta, connie drag racing 1992 inductees hall of fame. Kalitta is the ceo of kalitta air and the owner of kalitta motorsports. Jim oberhofer released from kalitta motorsports nhra. Conrad connie kalitta is the ceo of kalitta air and a retired drag racing driver, once known as the bounty hunter. He made his home in snead island, florida, with wife, kathy married 111990 and two sons, colin and corey. One of the greatest drag racing champions is connie kalitta. Official site of kalitta motorsports kalitta motorsports. Now hes the owner of kalitta motorsports with 2 top fuel cars and 2 funny cars. Jan 29, 2016 read the full interview at car and driver. Drivers on his team include alexis dejoria, del worsham, doug kalitta and jr. Jamie squireallsport in 2001, named one of national hot rod association top 50 drivers, 19512000 no. An expensive and emotional day for john force racing duration. Conrad connie kalitta is the ceo of kalitta air and a retired american drag racing driver once known as the bounty hunter. Dougs uncle, the legendary connie kalitta, won the gatornationals himself in 1994.
The dhl dragster will once again be led by drag racing legend connie kalitta as crew chief, alongside kurt elliott. Connie kalitta american drag racing driver age, birthday. Kalitta s father is the nowdeceased doug kalitta sr. Make offer scott kalittakalitta air124th autographed by scott,connie,doug and chip foose 1995 scott kalitta 1. Kalitta is the ceo of kalitta air and the owner of kalitta motorsports kalitta was born in michigan, grew up in mount clemens, and was a 1957 graduate of mount clemens high school he raced from the 1950s through the 1990s. He was a legendary competitor in the sport and managed to rack up 17 career victories in his top fuel dragster, along with one funny car win. Connie kalitta gained fame in his bounty hunter dragsters beginning in the 1960s. Celebrating the drag racing legacy of connie kalitta, still. Coughlin, behind the wheel of the sealmaster dragster, will now be tuned by.
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