If you are a fan of drag racing, hearing the name "Big Daddy" means only one thing to you, Don Garlits. The name "Big Daddy" is synonymous with Drag Racing. Don has been honored by his peers who call him "The King of Dragsters". His Mopar® powered "Swap Rat" Top Fuel Dragster drove him to more that 140 National Event wins, and 8 N.H.R.A. U.S. Nationals titles.

"Big Daddy" has been drag racing since the mid 1950's. It took him almost 15 years to win his first N.H.R.A. National win. His winning streak lasted almost 40 years. Recently he took his "Swamp Rat" number 34 out of storage to run it at the Gator Nationals in Florida, and he ran it at over 320 miles per hour. Don has a museum in Ocala, Florida named appropriately "The Garlits Auto Museum". This museum houses many of the original "Swamp Rat" dragsters built buy Don and his crew, along with other classic cars that he owns. The museum, which is open to the general public is a must see stop for any gearhead or racing fan. If you are lucky you might get to meet "Big Daddy" himself.

He has won many different titles in his illustrious career. Titles that include:

• Dragster of the Decade
• Chassis Builder of the Year
• Driver of the Year
• 8 U.S. National Championships
• National speed records
• N.H.R.A. Driver of the year (several times)
• A.H.R.A. Driver of the year (several times)
• Inducted into several Hall of Fames (Hot Rod, Motor Sports, N.H.R.A., A.H.R.A. and many more)
• Listed In Top 10 Drivers of the Century
• Set multiple speed records on tracks across the country
• 17 World Champion Titles

He has been an innovator in the design and implementation of new ideas in top fuel dragsters. He was the first person to move the motor behind the drivers compartment, after losing part of his left foot in an accident, in which the dragster was cut in half and the motor came into the drivers compartment and surrounded it with flames. He was also the one who stretched the frame out to make it longer and more stable, to give the dragster better handling.

His car "Swamp Rat" has had many different versions of itself. All of the "Swamp Rat" dragsters had one thing in common, the unique black paint job. Each "Swamp Rat" was hand made by "Big Daddy" and his crew. One version of the "Swamp Rat" is in the Smithsonian Museum.
"Big Daddy" is still very active in the drag racing field. He helps new race teams to get sponsorships. As well as being a consultant for many of today's top drag racing teams, he is also one of the air personality for many networks that cover drag racing events.

.The History of Drag Racing. 1st ed. Dallas: Hot Rod Publications, 2003.