"I Hope to God They Do Good With It" - Don Garlits Takes Part in More History at IHRA's Revival

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)

By Logan Morris

Arguably, no name looms larger in drag racing history than “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. At 93, he has spent nearly his entire life pushing the sport forward, making history time and again. With 17 championships to his name, spanning the NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA, Garlits has remained at the forefront of drag racing for decades.

He was the first driver to officially break the 200 MPH barrier and the inventor of the rear-engine dragster, a design that forever changed the sport’s safety and performance. To list every milestone would fill volumes. So it’s only fitting that Garlits added another chapter to his incredible story this past weekend, taking part in the IHRA’s revival event at Darana Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

I caught up with drag racing’s godfather to get his thoughts on the IHRA’s return. He made it clear that while he loves the NHRA, he sees the IHRA’s comeback as a good thing for everyone who loves the sport.

“Oh yeah, I hope to God they do good with it. We need to associate with them. I love the NHRA, but the guy died and it did well after that. I was around when the IHRA was born. The original guy was Larry Carrier, a really super guy. I thought they went away, but it looks like they’re going to come back.”

When asked if he approached racing any differently depending on the association, Garlits didn’t hesitate. For him, the mindset was always the same, no matter whose logo was on the trophy. He also spoke about how important the IHRA’s return could be for grassroots racers.

“Back in the day, there were three associations, and they were all about even. There was the A, the I, and the N. There wasn’t much difference…this is an organization offering an opportunity for a lot of people to race who haven’t been able to in a long time, and I think that’s what’s going to happen.”

When the conversation turned to his favourite moment from an unmatched career, Garlits didn’t miss a beat. He took me back fifty years and delivered a masterclass in drag racing history.

“When I won the 1975 world championship. NHRA put a race over IHRA’s finals in Bristol, and [Gary] Beck went out there, won it, broke his contract with IHRA, got sued, but won that race and got 400 points ahead of me. I had to go into Ontario 400 points down. It wasn’t physically impossible, but virtually impossible for me to win the race and the championship. Then I set both ends of the record, which stood for almost seven years, and won the championship, first over 250 MPH at that rate. It was incredible.

In the second round, it was me and the Moonshine Guys from Kentucky with Dale Funk driving. Dale Funk comes over and says, ‘Big Daddy, what do you want us to do?’ I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ and he says, ‘We know what NHRA is trying to do to you — we want you to advance to another round.’ I said, ‘Dale, I don’t know what you ever heard about me, but I’ve never thrown a race. Let the best car win.’ Tears ran down his face. He said, ‘Big Daddy, that’s why you’re my hero.’ Then he tells his crew chief, ‘Robert! Put some nitro in it!’ and we ran the fastest side-by-side race to get to the fourth. I ran a 5.65 to his 5.71.”

Standing at the historic venue, with its familiar concrete launch pad giving way to well-worn asphalt lanes, Garlits couldn’t help but reflect on the memories tied to this legendary strip of pavement.

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)

“I just love it. It really wasn’t good at the time, but today I just love it. This is where Shirley [Muldowney] won her first big races. She beat me that day. I didn’t like it then, but it was a great thing for women and sports. She proved she was here to stay."

"Then, another time with Mopar, naturally, I drove my little 1962 Swamp Rat Too. 205 MPH. A little short-wheelbase thing on gasoline, right at this track. My wife got mad at me and said, ‘Why would you do that? You promised me you weren’t going to drive.’”

At 93, Garlits still isn’t content to rest on old trophies. True to form, he’s already looking ahead. In recent years, he has been developing an electric dragster project, determined to push the sport’s future forward just as he has so many times before.

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits still lives and breathes the sport he helped build. And if there’s anything he loves more than making history, it’s finding new barriers to break.