| Drag
racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits
will compete at four NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series events under the Summit Racing banner in
2003 to help the Ohio-based mail-order giant
celebrate its 35th anniversary.
 Garlits'
Swamp Rat 34 will wear Summit Racing Equipment
colors for these four NHRA events in 2003: the
Mac Tools Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.,
March 13-16; the Summit Racing Equipment
Southern Nationals, Atlanta, Ga., May 1-4; the
Pontiac Excitement Nationals Presented By Summit
Racing Equipment, Columbus, Ohio, June 12-15;
and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis,
Ind., August 27-September 1.
Garlits'
Swamp Rat 32 dragster also will be on display in
Summit's new 22,000 square foot Retail Store in
Tallmadge, Ohio.
"I can think of no better way to celebrate
our 35th anniversary than to add the greatest
driver in our sport to the Summit team for
2003," says Skooter Peaco, Motorsports
Manager. "We expect that fans and customers
will be by to see Don during our events and help
us commemorate our year-long anniversary
celebration in grand style. It is our full
intention to finish off our 35th anniversary by
helping Big Daddy and Team Summit get into the
Top Fuel winner's circle!
Garlits
began his drag racing career in 1950, scored his
first victory in 1955, and in 1963 he won his
first NHRA National event (the Winternationals).
In four decades of racing, Garlits has won 17
world championships-10 AHRA, 4 IHRA and 3 NHRA.
Garlits has also won the prestigious U.S.
Nationals on eight occasions. His national event
wins total 144, and he has received many honors,
including Car Craft Magazine's "Man of the
Year" in 1969 and 1971 to 1973. In 1985 and
'86, he was named NHRA Division 2
"Professional Category Driver of the
Year," and in 2001 he was voted Number 1
Drag Racer of the Last 50 Years by the NHRA.
Garlits also founded the Professional Racers
Organization (PRO) and served as president from
1972 to 1976.
Garlits
is the owner and driver of Swamp Rat 34. Other
members of his crew include his high school
sweetheart and wife, Pat; crew chief, Richard
Hogan; team manager, Jim Hunnewell; quality
control technician T.C. Lemons, who has been
with Don since 1968; clutch management
technician, Larry Shepard; and cylinder head
technician, Jeff Garvin. |
