Mopar drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits puts his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar through a test run at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, Ill., on Saturday, Aug. 29.
It’s been six years since “Big Daddy” tore up the track.
But starting Wednesday, Don Garlits, the storied racer known as “Big Daddy,” will compete in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) U.S., marking his first appearance in the series since 2003.
Garlits will drive his one-of-a-kind Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar in the NHRA Stock elimations heat at the MacTools U.S. Nationals during Labor Day weekend. The drag racing legend will make his historic opening run in the Drag Pak on Wednesday in A/Stock Automatic qualifying at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. The full U.S. Nationals is scheduled to begin Wednesday with final eliminations on Sept. 7.
Exactly six years ago, Garlits hung up his helmet after Top Fuel qualifying at the U.S. Nationals. He last ran a stock class car in 1963 when he competed in a 1963 Dodge Max Wedge drag package car carrying “Garlits Dodge” graphics. Like his 1963 car, Garlits’ new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar has the same lettering emblazoned on its sides. “Big Daddy’s” 2009 Dodge Challenger is the first Drag Pak by Mopar ever made.
“I like my Dodge Challenger Drag Pak much better than a dragster,” said Garlits, referring to how Top Fuel dragsters are currently campaigned. “It takes 25 people to get a dragster to the line these days. All I have to do with the Dodge Challenger is turn the key and take it there. When the light turns green I have a ten-second ride—which is almost three times what I used to get—and I even have time to look at the tach and shift gears.”
Having taken delivery of the Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar at the Performance Racing Industry show in December 2008, Garlits has had some time behind the wheel. He also put the Drag Pak by Mopar through test and exhibition runs at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, Ill., last weekend.
Check out the YouTube video to see a classic Garlits victory:
