QUICKFACTS
Voted One of NHRA's Top 50 Drivers of All-Time (Number 21): 2001
2 IHRA Top Fuel World Championships as Driver: 1979 and 1982
1 NHRA Top Fuel World Championship as Crew Chief: 1977
2 NHRA Top Fuel World Championships as Team Owner: 1994 and 1995
Served as Crew Chief for Shirley Muldowney When She Became the First-and Still Only-
Female Top Fuel Champion
First Driver to Break 200 mph Barrier at an NHRA National Event
First Driver to Break 290 mph Barrier
10 NHRA National Event Wins and 22 Final Rounds as a Driver
1 U.S. Nationals Victory: 1994
10 NHRA National Event Wins and 22 Final Rounds as a Driver
1 U.S. Nationals Victory: 1994
Top Speed: 314 mph
Low ET: 4.584
CAREER OVERVIEW
Drag racing has seen a lot of changes since Connie Kalitta began racing his 1951 Willys on an abandoned Michigan airstrip back in the late-1950s. Over the years, 6,000 horsepower, nitro-burning machines have replaced the old slingshot dragsters, state-of-the-art semis have taken the place of flatbed trailers, and drag racing has gone from a grassroots movement to a commercial, multi-million dollar business. Through it all, one thing has remained the same: Connie Kalitta's desire to win.
Connie Kalitta began racing in the late-1950s and earned the nickname "Bounty Hunter" in the 1960s because he had a list of "most wanted" drivers painted on his dragster just below the roll cage. After he'd defeat each of the drivers on this list-some of the best racers of the day-he'd cross the name off. When Kalitta began touring in 1963, the names on this list were quickly crossed off-Garlits, Prudhomme, Ivo, and more.
Over the years, Connie would notch 10 NHRA national event wins and make 22 final round appearances. However, his first NHRA World Championship came while serving as crew chief for Shirley Muldowney in 1977. Soon after, he returned to the driver's seat and won two IHRA Top Fuel World Championships (1979 and 1982). Before retiring from driving in 1994, Connie became the first person to break the 290 mile-per-hour barrier, finished second at Indy twice, and won the U.S. Nationals in 1994. He finished in the Top Ten in points seven times during the 1980s. In 1994 and 1995, Connie Kalitta, won two NHRA World Championships as owner of the Kalitta Motorsports team.
Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta has experienced success at every level of drag racing-driver, crew chief, and team owner-yet his desire to be the best remains as strong as ever in 2006.
