Doug Kalitta, Sr., the father of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta and brother of drag racing legend Conrad “Connie” Kalitta, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. He was 67. He passed away at his home in Mt. Clemens, Mich.

Doug Kalitta, Sr., the father of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta and brother of drag racing legend Conrad “Connie” Kalitta, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. He was 67. He passed away at his home in Mt. Clemens, Mich.

“Senior”, as he was known to the drag racing community was a staple of the Kalitta Motorsports team even though he generally remained behind the scenes. He could be spotted at the race track hopping from pit to pit joking and laughing and looking for coffee. His laugh was unmistakable and could often be heard over the roar of his son’s 8,000-horspower Mac Tools dragster. His standard reply to questions, “Yeah, yeah, yeah”, became his trademark along with often resting his eyeglasses on his forehead.

A “Senior” tribute decal will be displayed on all of the Team Kalitta race cars in Norwalk.