Kalitta Presents Herbert with Check for BRAKES

$50,000 Donation Given in the Name of Scott Kalitta

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2008) – Before the third round of qualifying on Saturday at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., Connie Kalitta presented Doug Herbert a $50,000 check for his charity organization BRAKES.

“For Connie to do this to help BRAKES is really awesome,” said Herbert.  “Scott and I were friends and he was good friends with Jon and James from the time they were little.  Scott would have wanted to do something to help people so it’s really neat that did that.  The money they donated will help us save some kids lives.”

After the tragic death of Scott Kalitta in a racing crash at Englishtown the Kalitta family decided to have half of the proceeds from sales of Scott Kalitta tribute merchandise be given to BRAKES.  The team also sold BRAKES merchandise from their souvenir trailer and donated all proceeds to Herbert’s charity organization.  Sales of Scott Kalitta tribute merchandise are ongoing and more donations to BRAKES are forthcoming.

“First of all I want to thank all the great racing fans and all the NHRA drivers and teams for all of their tremendous support for me and Scott’s family and Kalitta Motorsports,” said Connie Kalitta.  “Needless to say, this has been a very trying time for all of us, but we would not have been able to get through it without everyone’s help.”

As the NHRA visits Charlotte, N.C., for the first time this weekend, Doug Herbert, whose shop is located in nearby Lincolnton, is receiving an outpouring of support for his charity organization BRAKES from fans, the NHRA community and fellow drivers.

“Doug and Scott were close friends, and I know it hit Scott really hard when Jon and James were killed just like it hit Doug hard when we lost Scott,” said Kalitta.  “By donating the money to BRAKES, we know that Scott would have wanted that to help Doug and his efforts and this was the best way to make something positive from such tragic losses.”