Connie Kalitta

Racer

Birthday February 24, 1938

Birth Sign Pisces

Birthplace Michigan

Age 86 years old

Nationality United States

#44284 Most Popular

1938

Conrad "Connie" Kalitta (born February 24, 1938) is an American businessman and former drag racing driver, nicknamed "The Bounty Hunter."

Kalitta is the CEO of Kalitta Air and the owner of Kalitta Motorsports.

1950

He raced from the 1950s through the 1990s.

1957

Kalitta was born in Michigan, grew up in Mount Clemens, and was a 1957 graduate of Mount Clemens High School.

1963

Kalitta was runner-up at the 1963 NHRA Winternationals in Top Gas and at the 1965 NHRA SpringNationals in Top Fuel.

1964

He was the first driver of a Top Fuel dragster to hit 200 mph in a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) sanctioned event – the 1964 NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Kalitta teamed up with Shirley Muldowney as the Bounty Hunter and Bounty Huntress, in a pair of Ford Mustangs, hers a Buttera chassis, his a Logghe.

1967

His first major event win was the 1967 American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) Winternationals in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a 427ci "cammer"–powered Top Fuel dragster.

1971

Kalitta stepped back from driving in 1971, focusing on growing his airline business.

1977

He first returned to the sport as Muldowney's crew chief – including her 1977 Top Fuel championship season – before getting back into a Top Fuel dragster in 1978.

1983

Kalitta was played by Beau Bridges, in a lead role, in the Muldowney biography film Heart Like a Wheel (1983).

1989

Kalitta won the 1989 NHRA Winternationals, most notable for the fact that the win included him becoming the first ever Top Fuel driver (any sanctioning series) to hit 290 mph.

1992

Kalitta was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992.

1994

Kalitta ultimately won a total of 10 NHRA national events, including the 1994 Gatornationals and U.S. Nationals - his final title.

2001

In 2001, the 50th Anniversary list of National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951-2000, ranked Kalitta at #21.

2008

He is the father of racer Scott Kalitta, killed in a drag racing crash in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, in 2008.

He is the uncle of racer Doug Kalitta.

2016

On November 14, 2016, Kalitta was honored at the season-ending Mello Yello Awards Ceremony with NHRA's first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.