Drag racing champ Connie Kalitta still feeling need for speed

(Photo Steve Perez / Detroit News) – Ypsilanti — Connie Kalitta stood in the middle of his mammoth, state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot race shop, looking at his multiple Top Fuel and Funny Cars as numerous employees were busy at work around him.

Kalitta, 76, is as passionate as ever for the sport of drag racing. Known as the Bounty Hunter during his racing days, Kalitta has enjoyed tremendous success and suffered the devastation of losing his son during his six decades in the sport.

Connie, who grew up in Mount Clemens, has accomplished everything there is in the sport, winning the U.S. Nationals — drag racing’s version of the World Series or Super Bowl — 20 years ago as a driver and winning series championships as a crew chief and owner.

His team’s last two series championships were won by his only son, Scott, in 1994 and 1995. On June 21, 2008, Scott was killed during the final round of qualifying in Englishtown, N.J., when his engine exploded near the finish line. Read More