FanHouse FunnyCar

Scott Kalitta sat in his NHRA Funny Car Saturday afternoon as the team started the engine, waiting to make another run down the track.

He didn't know, his team didn't know, and we didn't know that it would be the last time we would ever see Scott Kalitta.

That's just the way, though, that this racing business is.

When it all boils down, racing is inherently dangerous. It's men and women piloting vehicles either in a straight line or around a track as fast as they possibly can. And when you push things to the edge, you sometimes slip -- either because of a driver error or a vehicle error.

Kalitta was sitting in a Funny Car that has seen tremendous improvements in safety just recently after the death of another driver, Eric Medlen, just last year. Something new happened this time to Kalitta, and for an unknown reason, he was unable to to apply the braking system or shut the fuel lines down after the car exploded at the end of the run.

He was left to ride a 300 mph rocket until it finally found something to stop it, ending the life and career of a family man and a champion.

Funny Car driver Mike Ashley recorded the fastest pass in drag racing history Friday night when he reached 334.32 mph in his Dodge Charger to lead qualifying for the eighth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. A mortgage banker by weekday, Ashley admits to a struggle of juggling two careers and this weekend decided to switch off:

"This weekend I decided to shut off the phone, not log on to the computer and only focus on racing. I made the decision that I'd take whatever comes my way and just be happy to be here and enjoy the moment. Being No. 1 and setting speed record, I'll take it."

High finance, high speed ... Yada yada yada. It's not NASCAR ... Even though 334 mph is hella fast, I've already lost interest.

But how about that smokin' paint job depicting Ashley's owner, Evan Knoll, as the "fuel doctor?"

There's a few stock cars I'd like to see make a joyride through Illusions Custom Paint and Body Shop next time they're Bristol, Tenn., starting with those belonging to Petty Enterprises.

Wouldn't The King's mug make a killer hood shot?

I'd also love to see The Intimidator in his shades on the #8 car, but I doubt Budweiser would go for it.

And speaking of owners on cars, how long will it be before we see the Red Sox all over the Roush Fenway cars? Playoff season?

This week saw tragic accidents in both the NHRA and IRL leagues.

John Force Racing's funny car driver Eric Medlen, 33, who had emerged as one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries suffered when his race car crashed into a guardwall during a Monday test session at Gainesville Raceway.

Argentinian Indy Pro Series driver Pablo Perez, 24, who drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, underwent surgery on both legs yesterday following a horrific crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is currently in serious, but stable condition.

These tragedies make me think I have it easier as a stock car racing fan. And I can't help but find myself grateful to NASCAR for stepping up their commitment to driver safety.

Since 2001, several tracks have been upgraded with safer barriers and all drivers are now required to wear the HANS device.

The car of tomorrow brings yet another improvement: IMPAXX™ Energy Absorbing Foam provided by Dow Automotive, which is designed to absorb and attenuate energy in a crash:

The energy of the impact is managed through a series of controlled reactions within the foam. The result is a controlled release of energy, allowing forces to be better spread throughout the vehicle from the time of impact to the end of the crash sequence.

Bristol Motor Speedway is certainly a fine choice of racetrack for IMPAXX to make its debut.