Don Garlits to Race Challenger at Indy’s Big Go

[Mr BB Chevy]

Don Garlits to Race Challenger at Indy’s Big Go
Don Garlits has officially entered the 2009 U.S. Nationals as a sportsman Stock Eliminator competitor. At 71 years of age, Don will be driving a 2009 Dodge Challenger Drag Pack car in the A/Stock class to commemorate his sixtieth year in drag racing. This will be the first time in 5 years that Dan has entered an NHRA national event. His last qualifying race was in May 2003 at the Southern Nationals in Commerce, Georgia where he qualified in Top Fuel.

Photo Credit: Mopar

Garlits, a longtime Mopar sponsored drag racer, took delivery of one of the first Dodge Challenger drag pack cars back in March. The Challenger will be “Big Daddy’s” third Mopar package car. He received one of the first thirteen 1962 Dodge Max Wedge Drag Cars, and raced a 1963 lightweight Dodge 426 Max Wedge car.

The Swamp Rat #35 Challenger will be equipped with a 370 ci HEMI engine and a manual transmission. Sponsorship will come from Mopar and Don’s Drag Racing Museum in Ocala, FL.



In other Challenger Drag Pack news, we hear that the original Challenger Drag Pack production number has been cut from 100 to 50. It appears that the economy and a late production start may be to blame. 50 is the minimum to qualify for NHRA’s Stock or Super Stock class, but we wonder if Ford Racing’s Cobra Jet might have had an effect on orders.

We’ll be cheering for “Big Daddy” as he rolls into the waterbox at Indy. The Stock Eliminator field is pretty tough at the “Big Go” but Garlits is the ultimate competitor so we anticipate he at least will qualify and attempt to race for a A/S class win.

[mockingbird812]

Go Big Daddy!!!