Garlits can drive anything!

After a six-year hiatus from competitive racing, Don Garlits returned to competition at the U.S. Nationals, the site of some of his most crucial and dramatic wins. This time, though, it is at the wheel of a Dodge doorslammer.

With just two or three days of seat time after more than a 40-year layoff from racing a door car, Garlits once again proved why he is the King.

In A/SA class run-offs today (Sept. 3) Garlits lined up against Stock Super and Stock multi-time World Champ Dan Fletcher for the first time in drag racing history that a former World Champ in Top Fuel faced a World Champ in Super Stock. Fletcher, giving Garlits the respect he deserved, cut him no slack and put a .010 light on “Big”. Good, very good, but Garlits was up to the task and showed he still has it and put up a .007 RT of his own. Fletcher ran a 10.332 on the 11.30 index, while Garlits was only able to run a 10.489 and lost. Check out editor Jeff Burk’s in depth feature on the 001 Serial number Drag Pak Challenger in Mopar Max

For an in-depth look at this new Garlits Drag-Pak Challenger see our story in sister publication, MoparMax.com.   (Chris Haverly photo) [9/3/2009]

Westcott takes new car to new heights

Charlie Westcott Jr. came to Indy with a “new” ’68 Barracuda built specifically for the SS/AH class and the annual Mopar Hemi Challenge. He picked up right where he left off last year with a stellar 8.491/158.07 that leads the qualifying for the SS/AH class by a bunch. For more photos and info check DRO later today for a special report.
(Chris Haverly photos) [9/3/2009]