Garlits to run New Challenger
12-16-2008, 03:34 PM
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Garlits to run New Challenger
This was on the NHRA Web Site. Should be a very interesting 2009 in drag racing.....
Garlits plans to compete with new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entry
12/9/2008
At this year's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Don Garlits, near lane, and Judy Lilly piloted Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entries in an exhibition race. (Below) Garlits, left, the event's grand marshal, and Lilly were greeted by Bandimere Speedway's John Bandimere Jr.
Drag racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits will return to NHRA competition in 2009, but not with one of his iconic Top Fuelers. Garlits, a longtime Mopar devotee and racer, has purchased the first production Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle and plans to race it in NHRA Division 2 competition; he is aiming to make it to the 2009 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals to commemorate his 60th year in drag racing.
Mopar, Chrysler LLC's Global Service and Parts division, will present Garlits with a special certificate recognizing Garlits' purchase of the first production Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle at the 21st annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. The ceremony will take place on the Mopar Stage at the PRI show following the presentation of the Economaki Champion of Champions award, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The PRI show will be held Dec. 11-13 at Florida's Orlando Convention Center.
SpeedFreaks host Kenny Sargent will emcee the event, which will include remarks by Steve Shugg, director of sales and marketing, Mopar. Garlits will receive the certificate commemorating Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle No. 001. The Mopar drag racing icon will have his new Drag Pak Vehicle on display near the Mopar Stage along with famed package cars from Mopar's past, including Dick Landy's '64 Dodge Dart and a '64 lightweight Dodge. Garlits' Drag Pak vehicle was delivered straight from the factory to the PRI Show, offering prospective Drag Pak owners a glimpse of how the car will look upon delivery.
Garlits piloted one of two Dodge Challenger Drag Pak prototypes (Judy Lilly steered the other) at the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in July. The factory-developed vehicle kit is based on the '08 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and features a weight reduction of 1,000 pounds. Unique additional components include a liftoff hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, and more. Special engine packages based on the 5.7-liter Hemi, 6.1-liter Hemi, and 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge are offered for the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle, which will be eligible to run in popular categories (Comp, Super Stock, and Stock) and potentially 40 classes in NHRA and IHRA competition.
This will be "Big Daddy's" third Mopar package car. He received one of the first 13 '62 Dodge Max Wedge drag cars and raced a '63 lightweight Dodge 426 Max Wedge car.
"It's an honor to get the very first Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak," said Garlits, who has claimed 17 world championships and 144 national event wins in different sanctioning bodies during his storied racing career. "I am going to have fun competing in a car my wife will actually let me drive. I'm not allowed to drive a Top Fuel dragster anymore. She said to me after my last 310-mph run at Indy in 2003, 'I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do this anymore,' and I knew I had better comply because I didn't want to come home and find all my stuff piled on the front lawn."
Garlits plans to compete with new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entry
12/9/2008
At this year's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Don Garlits, near lane, and Judy Lilly piloted Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entries in an exhibition race. (Below) Garlits, left, the event's grand marshal, and Lilly were greeted by Bandimere Speedway's John Bandimere Jr.
Drag racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits will return to NHRA competition in 2009, but not with one of his iconic Top Fuelers. Garlits, a longtime Mopar devotee and racer, has purchased the first production Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle and plans to race it in NHRA Division 2 competition; he is aiming to make it to the 2009 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals to commemorate his 60th year in drag racing.
Mopar, Chrysler LLC's Global Service and Parts division, will present Garlits with a special certificate recognizing Garlits' purchase of the first production Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle at the 21st annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. The ceremony will take place on the Mopar Stage at the PRI show following the presentation of the Economaki Champion of Champions award, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The PRI show will be held Dec. 11-13 at Florida's Orlando Convention Center.
SpeedFreaks host Kenny Sargent will emcee the event, which will include remarks by Steve Shugg, director of sales and marketing, Mopar. Garlits will receive the certificate commemorating Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle No. 001. The Mopar drag racing icon will have his new Drag Pak Vehicle on display near the Mopar Stage along with famed package cars from Mopar's past, including Dick Landy's '64 Dodge Dart and a '64 lightweight Dodge. Garlits' Drag Pak vehicle was delivered straight from the factory to the PRI Show, offering prospective Drag Pak owners a glimpse of how the car will look upon delivery.
Garlits piloted one of two Dodge Challenger Drag Pak prototypes (Judy Lilly steered the other) at the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in July. The factory-developed vehicle kit is based on the '08 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and features a weight reduction of 1,000 pounds. Unique additional components include a liftoff hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, and more. Special engine packages based on the 5.7-liter Hemi, 6.1-liter Hemi, and 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge are offered for the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicle, which will be eligible to run in popular categories (Comp, Super Stock, and Stock) and potentially 40 classes in NHRA and IHRA competition.
This will be "Big Daddy's" third Mopar package car. He received one of the first 13 '62 Dodge Max Wedge drag cars and raced a '63 lightweight Dodge 426 Max Wedge car.
"It's an honor to get the very first Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak," said Garlits, who has claimed 17 world championships and 144 national event wins in different sanctioning bodies during his storied racing career. "I am going to have fun competing in a car my wife will actually let me drive. I'm not allowed to drive a Top Fuel dragster anymore. She said to me after my last 310-mph run at Indy in 2003, 'I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do this anymore,' and I knew I had better comply because I didn't want to come home and find all my stuff piled on the front lawn."
12-16-2008, 05:34 PM
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RE: Garlits to run New Challenger
I say good for him!
He is the only racer I know that could buy the car, run it to the ground, and sell it for more BECAUSE is was Big Daddy that did it!
He is the only racer I know that could buy the car, run it to the ground, and sell it for more BECAUSE is was Big Daddy that did it!
12-17-2008, 03:03 AM
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RE: Garlits to run New Challenger
ORIGINAL: Andre@Edge
I say good for him!
He is the only racer I know that could buy the car, run it to the ground, and sell it for more BECAUSE is was Big Daddy that did it!
I say good for him!
He is the only racer I know that could buy the car, run it to the ground, and sell it for more BECAUSE is was Big Daddy that did it!
12-17-2008, 04:03 AM
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RE: Garlits to run New Challenger
Definately a class act!
Too bad there aren"t more positive role models like Big Daddy Don and Richard the King around these days for the current generation...
12-17-2008, 05:55 PM
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RE: Garlits to run New Challenger
Please note folks, that the event was held at Bandimere here in Denver, home of the Mile High Nationals. I was introduced to the original Banmdimere Sr. about 40 years ago. He was a next door neighbor of my great aunt, who was really my mother's mother (she raised her) and John was ultra-cool. I don't think Don will be racing his drag Chally but it is really cool he endorsed it.
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