flatsics

I was looking at the wreck and thinking they should use a system like the Navy uses on aircraft carriers. Why couldn't they use an arresting hook that is electronically activated once they pass a certain point on the track?

Matt Romanowski

I think this has a lot more to do than just the length of the shutdown area. If you notice, the shutes were messed up, but the brakes were never put on....At over 200, no amount of shutdown length and gravel trap will help.

The barrier was not involved in the crash.

This is truly a sad event for all of racing. RIP Scott....

Billy Wyatt

He actually hit a pole at the end of the sand trap.Not sure why it was there??

500

What a tragedy. I read about it on a newsite and below the story, in the comments section, there was one of those commentaries about how "no one should feel sorry for him... he deserved it... it was only a matter of time... blah, blah, blah..." There is always someone who pipes up with this stuff every time a driver is killed. Really gets under my skin... I can only imagine how upsetting it would be for family members or close friends to see that.

Compared to other forms of motorsport, I think NHRA has not advaced as much in the areas of safety (especially track design). Hopefully, this tragedy will spur improvements.

Those funny cars are a frightening and awesome combination. I can only imagine the nerve it must take to strap into one...

MTosi

I think they have a problem with the current chassis they are using I remember this discussion happening after John Force's crash. They need to do something about this current situation, a certain level of risk is accepted at 300mph and stuff will happen, but 5 fatalities in 4 years in unacceptable, this is not late 60's F1 we are dealing with here, this is the 21st century.

ajcjr

matt what barrier are you referring to? I was there, i have drag raced at etown for the past 17 years, those barriers hurt and kill racers. there is no reason for a jersey barrier at the end of the track. Last year at an NHRA divisional at etown and alcohol funny car smashed the barrier, thank god he wasnt going that fast, but the chassis was toast. Scott could have been alive after the explosion, the brakes were probably burnt crisp since they are carbon fiber, the chutes did not work but either did the sand trap, when the car hit that barrier all you saw was a mushroom of smoke in the air. I love etown, i learned to drag raced there, but they need to do something with those barriers.

I knew the kalittas, i actually did work for them with the airline. great guys, very nice. Its unfortunate this had to happen. Scott retired twice before but was bit by the bug like we all are, thankfully he checked out doing something he really enjoyed. The bad part is his wife and kids and also his dad connie. Etown was dead silent after this crash, it was scary.

God Speed Scott, you will be missed but not forgotten!!!

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ajcjr

What idoit wrote that, they should strap his @ss to a funny car. Those cars are voilent, i have been on the starting line with them, i have been at the track testing when they are the only cars there, it shakes the ground. Dont get me wrong i love the roar of a porsche motor running down a straight but if you ever get the chance to see a car go over 300mph in less than 5 seconds do it, the tv does not do it justice

Bull

It was a camera crane.

Veloce Raptor

And he didn't hit it. His impact with the wall, and the resulting massive fuel explosion, caused the crane to move violently. I hoep the cameraman was OK.

mark kibort

That was the nastiest thing Ive ever seen! I can only imagine his thoughts when that car blew at half track. 300mph, is like a flyby for an F16 at an air show. no barrier or safety system is going to work. you need to have some kind of slow down ramp like for trucks that go up a hill or something. I think these kind of cars need to have more safety components so that a chute is ALWAYs deployed, no matter what. maybe a big arrester net that can be made of kevlar and catch the car at 200mph and take some of the speed out of it. that impact was like watching a jet, crash into a mountain side. very upsetting.
my heart goes out to the families.
RIP.

Mk

mark kibort

thats a great idea! they usually dont roll over until they hit the walls, so that might be the answer!
mk

Matt Romanowski

The barrier at the end of the track, coming in from driver's right.

Either way, this is a terrible accident.