Scott Kalitta R.I.P.

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And so we find ourselves for the second consecutive NHRA POWERade season mourning the death of a beloved Funny Car driver. In 2007, it was another second-generation personality, Eric Medlen. Now we must come to grips with the all-too-abrupt passing of Scott Kalitta. But if it were possible to hear from either of these young, courageous racers as we reflect on their losses, their message would be clear and concise and would help to remind us how much they loved the sport and how much it enriched their lives.

"We have no regrets," they would say. "If we had it to do all over again, we would race our cars and we would race to win. Anything less isn't living."



Bill Stephens covers the NHRA for ESPN.com.



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