The East Coast Drag Time Hall of Fame weekend in Henderson, NC is just two weeks away on October 17-18-19 and just when you thought it couldn’t grow any larger in size and stature, promoter Nancy Wilson announces the name of another drag racer who will be attending for the first time. But this isn’t just any drag racer... it’s “Big Daddy” Don Garlits along with one of his legendary Swamp Rat dragsters.
Voted Top Driver for NHRA’s first 50 years, the
Ocala,
FL resident has been involved in the sport one way or another since 1955 and over the years amassed a winning record that’s second to none: 144 major events and 17 national championships in races sanctioned by NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA. In addition, he became the first to record an official 200 MPH run, the first win a national event with a rear engine dragster, and the first to compete in a successful streamlined Top Fueler.
You can call him “Big Daddy,” “Swamp Rat,” or simply call him Don Garlits “the Best.”