This is a syndicated news article written by Ercie Hill of Wichita Falls worked in drag racing for many years with her husband Eddie Hill, an award-winning NHRA racer.

With the loss of our friend and fellow racer Scott Kalitta recently, the drag racing world was knocked to its knees. We’d known Scott for 23 years when tragedy struck in an unthinkable, untimely, unforgiving accident at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, N.J., on June 21, 2008. A day we can’t forget.

The smell of boat exhaust, oil and gas, and the sound of the water crashing against the docks, and the roar of the jet boats thundering down the Snake River meant it was time for the Pepsi Idaho Regatta.

Friday, during Coast to Coast Carports Pro Stocks first heat, PS-70 driver Ty Newton finished with the fastest recorded time ever in Burley at 44.18 seconds.

“Ty said the reason he goes so fast is because of the HPC coating on the headers,” said sponsor Marlene Faulkner. The addition to the headers was done this year, and the result was clear. On Saturday, Newton, from Phoenix, Ariz., took first in both Coast to Coast Carports Pro Stock heats.

A big winner on Saturday was K-Boat and Super Stock driver Tony Scarlata, 40, of Farifield, Calif. Scarlata, who began his career 18 years ago racing drag boats, ran 10 races this weekend due to competing in two classes.

“All I want to do is sleep,” he said, exhausted after his final race on Saturday. Scarlata took first place in both the Pepsi K-Boat heat and the Smith’s Food and Drug Super Stocks.