- Kalitta had just completed a 335.73-mph pass when the crash occurred.
- The two former USAC sprint car competitors were released by NHRA medical director.
- Stewart says he’ll be ready for this coming weekend’s four-wide Race 2 of the six-event playoffs.
- Kalitta’s team brought out back-up dragster for semifinal round.
Tony Stewart said he remembers nothing of the violent side-slam from Doug Kalitta’s wounded Top Fuel dragster during Sunday’s second round of the NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Kalitta registered a winning 3.787-second run at 335.73 mph against Stewart, and at the finish line, the front left wheel of his Mac Tools Dragster collapsed. It sent him from his right lane into the side of Stewart’s Dodge Direct Connection Dragster in the opposite lane. Stewart, who just had completed a 326.71-mph pass on the Reading, Pa., 1,000-foot course, took the brunt of the impact as his car flipped onto its left side. It came back upright onto its tires and struck the left guardwall, while Kalitta’s car skidded back over the center line and came to a stop.
Kalitta exited his dragster quickly. Stewart took a bit longer. NHRA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Phil Surface consulted with each driver onsite before releasing them…