Big Daddy Don Garlits

Added to his marvelous racing accomplishments is a Florida tourist complex called Garlits Auto Museums in Ocala, FL.  The Drag Racing Museum and Classic Car Collection, 17 World Championship Titles, and numerous racing milestones are all reality because Don first saw them as worthwhile dreams. Garlits’ distinct ability to conceptualize his dreams has allowed him to be master over the end result. 

“Big Daddy’s” living legacy and racecar design innovations are so significant that his record breaking Swamp Rat XXX is enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.  Don Garlits began racing in 1950 and scored his first major victory in 1955. His first NHRA National event win came in Top Fuel at the 1963 Winternationals in Pomona, CA.

Don has won the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals a record 8 times.  His four decades of Drag Racing have filled the pages of seven books.  Although this list is not exhaustive, the facts below provide a good overview of “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ colorful racing career.

» 1967 Received the Keys to the City of Daytona Beach

» Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, “Top Fuel Driver of The Year”-

   1969,’70,’72,’73,’75,’76,’77,’78,’86

» Car Craft Magazines “Man of the Year” - 1969, ’71, ’72, and 1973

» Voted into Auto Racing All-American Team by the AARWBA -

   1970,’71,’72,’73,’74,’75,’79,’84,’85,’87

» Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, as “Chassis Builder of the Year,” (Top Fuel)

    1970 and 1971

» Drag News Magazine voted Don as, “Man of the Year” - 1971, 1973, and 1975

» American Hot Rod Association (AHRA), “Fuel Driver of the Year” - 1971, ’72, ’73,

   and 1974

» 1971 - Presidential Guest at the White House - Also received the Chris Schenkel 

    Award

» 1972 Popular Hot Rod Magazine declared Swamp Rat “The Dragster of the

    Decade,” 1960-1970.

» Founder and President of the Professional Racers Organization (PRO) - 1972,

    ‘73,’74,’75, and 1976

» 1973 - Inducted into the Florida Pro Sports Hall of Fame - Race Drivers Hall of

    Fame, Ontario, CA

» 1974 - Honorary President of the Cragar 5 -second Club - Motorsports Hall of

    Fame, Ontario, CA

» 1975 - Elected to the Goodyear Motorsports Advisory Board - Key to the City of

    Tampa

» 1984 - Received the Keys to the City of Las Vegas

» 1985 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega, AL - Received the Sid

    Collins Award

» 1985 - Chosen by Racers for Christ and NHRA Division 2 as “Person of the Year”

» National Hot Rod Association Division 2, “Professional Category Driver of the

   Year” 1985 and 1986

» 1989 - Inducted into the National Hot Rod Associations, Southeastern Hall of

    Fame

» 1989 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Novi Michigan

» 1997 - Inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega Alabama

» 1997 - Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame

» 1999 - Voted Top Ten driver of the Century

» 1999 - California Cruising Hall of Fame, San Bernardino California

» 2001 - Returned to the sport, drove Gary Clapshaw's T/F car to 303.37 MPH with

   an ET of 4.720 Seconds

» 2001 - Voted the number 1 Drag Racer for the last 50 years by the NHRA

» 2002 - Took Swamp Rat 34 out of the Museum of Drag Racing, entered it into the

    NHRA US Nationals and turned a career best of 318.54 MPH in 4.76 Seconds

» First Dragster to top 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, 260, and 270 MPH - First to top 200

    in the 1/8 mile

» 17 World Champion Titles, 8 U.S. National Championships, and a total of 144

    National Event Wins

These being the highlights, it is no wonder that Chrysler Corporation has continued sponsorship affiliation with Don for over 40 years. Today, Don and Pat make their home on the grounds of the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. They raised two daughters while traveling all over our nation on tour, and they now have five grandchildren.

 Don currently coordinates the vehicle restorations for the museum, he is a broadcast commentator for a variety of networks, and he enjoys consulting for some Top Fuel Race Teams. Technology has driven the cost of fielding a competitive Pro Fuel Team well into the seven-figure range.  The hard work ethic and personal determination is what has separated Garlits from his counterparts. 

His human spirit is larger than life and his purpose keeps him young, pushing him above and beyond.  Don Garlits has no comprehension of mediocrity! To prove he could still do it, during the NHRA 2001 US Nationals held during Labor Day in Indianapolis IN, Big Daddy borrowed a Top Fuel car and entered it into this prestigious event. Don qualified the car with a personal best of 303.37 MPH in 4.720 seconds!

Then in 2002 he resurrected Swamp Rat 34 from the Museum and updated its equipment. SR-34 ran the GatorNationals with a speed of 323.04 MPH