Drag racing is an emotional sport and Friday during qualifying at the NHRA SuperNationals, a single nitro run testing the limits of those emotions.

Jeff Arend, who succeeded Scott Kalitta as driver of the DHL Toyota Funny Car, opened Friday’s nitro session with a single run in honor of the driver who lost his life at Englishtown last year.

Arend ran after a video tribute to Kalitta played on the ACDelco Vision big screen.

Drag racing is an emotional sport and Friday during qualifying at the NHRA SuperNationals, a single nitro run testing the limits of those emotions.

Jeff Arend, who succeeded Scott Kalitta as driver of the DHL Toyota Funny Car, opened Friday’s nitro session with a single run in honor of the driver who lost his life at Englishtown last year.

Arend ran after a video tribute to Kalitta played on the ACDelco Vision big screen.

A large group of those paying tribute included Kalitta’s dad, Connie, the Oberhofers, Hillary Will, Tom Compton and Graham Light. Many of the race fans in the grandstands stood in support of the Kalitta team.

Unfortunately for the team, the car struck the tires shortly at the hit and Arend aborted the run.

"Obviously, we miss Scott a lot," said Arend after the pass. "We would have liked to have run better on that run, but we will this weekend."
 

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