Wed, 16 Mar 2005, 01:03 PM Nitro Fish Wear and Frank Pedregon Team Up

Courtesy of Joe Sherk For Salute to Racing Legend Don Garlits

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Kenny Koretsky, owner of Nitro Fish Wear and driver of the NFW Pro Stock Dodge Stratus, is assisting Funny Car driver Frank Pedregon and Doug Davenport of Motorsports Development in saluting drag racing icon "Big Daddy" Don Garlits at the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 18-20, at Gainesville, Fla.

Pedregon Rendering

"All drag racing fans know what a legend Don Garlits is in our sport," said Koretsky, a one-time Top Fuel driver. "Nitro Fish Wear is pleased to be able to participate in this unique way of honoring Don for all he's done for the sport over the years.

"It's a pleasure working with Frank Pedregon. I've always loved Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars and this enables me to still be involved."

Pedregon's Dodge Stratus race car will feature a picture of Garlits on each side.

"It's been very exciting to see how this support for Don Garlits has grown," said Pedregon, a four-time Funny Car national-event winner. "Nitro Fish is a big part of it, along with Mac Tools, Summit Racing Equipment and Red Line Oil."

"Not one driver has ever shown his appreciation of what Garlits has done for drag racing throughout the years," said Davenport. "That's what Frank, Kenny and the other sponsors are doing this weekend. Frank's car will be unveiled at a special ceremony before Friday's first qualifying run."

Koretsky became the only driver in NHRA history to qualify a Top Fuel dragster and Pro Stock entry in the same event -- the 1990 Arizona Nationals at Phoenix. He won the first round in each category (beating Lori Johns in dragster and Larry Morgan in Pro Stock) but lost twice in the next round.

Soon thereafter, new NHRA legislation limited a driver to competing in one professional category at an event.

Garlits, one of the sport's early pioneers, was voted No. 1 on the NHRA Top 50 Greatest Drivers list during the sanctioning body's 50th anniversary celebration in 2001. He won 35 races and three NHRA Top Fuel championships (1975, 1985-86), but was recognized as one who helped change the face of drag racing through his mechanical innovations and skill as a driver. Garlits revolutionized Top Fuel when he built the first workable rear-engine dragster in 1972. He owns and operates the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum in Ocala, Fla.

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