Racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits will return to the cockpit of the vehicle he pioneered nearly
40 years ago, a rear engine Top Fuel dragster. The eight-time U.S. Nationals winner will warm-up
Antron Brown's Matco Tools dragster before Sunday's first qualifying attempt at O'Reilly Raceway
Park during the 55th annual U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.
Brown, the only driver to win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, considers Garlits
his racing hero, so it's only fitting that he approached the 35-time NHRA winner about starting his
Matco Tools dragster at the most prestigious race on the NHRA schedule. The warm-up will take place
at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Top Fuel qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on
Sunday afternoon.
"We were filming our Getting Down With Brown segment with ESPN on Friday and we asked 'Big Daddy'
if he wanted to hop in our Matco dragster and start it and he said 'of couse,' Brown said. "This is
awesome for our team. Our guys are all excited about having 'Big Daddy' around our pit, and he also
has a long-time relationship with Matco Tools. This is a win-win for everyone and I know the fans
will love it."
Garlits, a three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, clocked his first career 300-mph pass at O'Reilly
Raceway Park in 2001 behind the wheel of Gary Clapshaw's Matco Tools-backed dragster with a
quarter-mile burst of 4.72 seconds at 303.37 mph. Garlits' last triumph at the U.S. Nationals came
in 1986.
"It's always an adrenaline rush when you climb into a Top Fuel dragster and hear that engine roar
to life and cackle," Garlits said. "It's something I'd love to do again, but I can't. But I am
having a blast driving my new Dodge Challenger this weekend here at Indy."
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster
driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV,
Toyota, SpongeTechR Delivery Systerms, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast! Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite,
Impact! Racing, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing (FSM).
