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Don Garlits

Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer in the field of drag racing, he perfected the rear-engine Top Fuel dragster, an innovation motivated by the loss of part of his foot in a dragster accident. This design was notably safer since it put most of the fuel processing and rotating parts of the dragster behind the driver. The driver was placed in front of nearly all the mechanical components, thus protecting him and allowing him to activate a variety of safety equipment in the event of catastrophic mechanical failure or a fire. Garlits was an early promoter of the full-body, fire-resistant Nomex driving suit, complete with socks, gloves, and balaclava.

Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, and 270 mile-per-hour marks in the quarter mile; he was also the first to top 200 mph (320 km/h) in the 1⁄8 mi (0.20 km). He has been inducted into several Halls of Fame and has won many awards during his career.

In 2014, he was inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame as its Overseas Member induction for that year.

In 2004 he was inducted into the .

Automotive Hall of Fame

In 1997, he was inducted into the .

International Motorsports Hall of Fame

He was inducted in the [23] in 1989 as the sole representative of drag racing.

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951–2000, Don Garlits was ranked No.1.

In 1987, Garlits' record-setting was inducted into and enshrined at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Swamp Rat XXX

In 2008, he was inducted into the inaugural hall of fame class at .

Gateway International Raceway

In 2008, ranked him 23rd on their top drivers of all-time.[24]

ESPN

Garlits Auto Museums

National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers article of Don Garlits

Information on Don Garlits and the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

Listen to a live radio interview with Don Gartlits on Nostalgic Radio and Cars

Don Garlits Induction in the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame