Hey everyone, this is Nicky Boninfante Jr., co-crew chief on the DHL Toyota Solara Funny Car, and this is my first blog for Kalitta Motorsports.

I first went to work for the Kalittas from 1991 until 1996. I crewed on Connie’s car for a while, then worked on Scott’s championship car in 1994 and 1995. Since then, I’ve been with a few fuel teams, including Don Prudhomme, Doug Herbert, Bob Gilbertson, and Bruce Litton, so now that I have gone back to work at Kalittas, it is like be home again.

I went back to work on Doug’s TF car as co-crew chief with Jon “O” last August before Brainerd. Then for 2009, we got switched to Scott’s DHL Funny Car as co-crew chiefs. I love Funny Cars and want to get a win for Scott, Connie, and the whole Kalitta team.

Anyway, me, Jim “O,” and Jon “O” flew to Tampa for the Gainesville race. We got to Tampa, went straight to a liquor store, and bought a box of Scott’s favorite beer and some Swisher Sweets. We then took off to visit Scott in the cemetery. We drank all the beer with Scott and smoked a terrible cigar with him.

Then we went to visit Kathy, Corey and Colin.

We took a tour of the house Scott was building. It’s now completed and is on inlet with a dock for his boats. The place reminds me of a resort. Corey, Scott’s oldest son, took us for a boat ride, and that was pretty cool. Colin’s dog ran away, and we went looking for it, too. After we found him, we piled into the car and went to dinner and ate some “Gator Balls” at a great seafood place. When we were done, me, the Os, and Corey took off for the Gatornationals for the weekend.

After getting done early on Sunday with both cars out in round one, we went to the Ale House for some food and a few beers. While we were in the outside bar, we even got to see the Space Shuttle take off. That was impressive… it lasted about 20 seconds.

We all got up early Monday morning, had a “double trans-fat special” breakfast at Waffle House, then drove back to Tampa’s airport to head back home, me to Philly, the Os to Detroit, and Jeff to California. Corey rode home with “Waterbed” Fred Sunday night so he could make it back in time for school in the morning.

Even though we had a rough weekend in Gainesville, I really enjoyed having Corey hang out with us. He is a cool kid, and his dad Scott was a very special person to me.

Thanks for reading.