Don Garlits to Race at $2000 Challenge

Tom
By Tom Suddard
Oct 7, 2019 | $2000 Challenge

Our $2000 Challenge Presented by CRC Industries always attracts big names–names like Andrew Nelson, who ran a blistering 9.52-second quarter-mile pass in a car built for less than $2000–but this year will be one for the record-books. 

To provide a benchmark for the drag racing portion of our three-part competition, Big Daddy Don Garlits, widely known as the father of drag racing, will hit the starting line to try and best our fastest competitors's times at the $2000 Challenge. And it will be a tight race, too–Garlits will be driving the Dream Giveaway Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Extreme, meaning our competitors will need to bring their A-game if they want to beat the "King of the Dragsters."

Even better: You can win the car he'll be driving! It's being given away, and you can use the promo code "Grassroots" to get double tickets! Get tickets right here. 

As always, the $2000 Challenge is free to spectators, and returns to Gainesville Raceway Friday, October 25. Find spectator info here

Never heard of Don Garlits? Check out his biography here; it’s a seriously cool read. The $2000 Challenge is presented by CRC Industries, in association with Miller Electric and with trophies by Copart and White Pony Absorbent Products. You can learn more and register your car right here.

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Comments
Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/7/19 10:23 a.m.

Are you berkeleying kidding me, man?! Holy E36 M3.

Good get  

 (checks calendar and work schedule ...)

sleepyhead the buffalo
sleepyhead the buffalo GRM+ Memberand Mod Squad
10/7/19 10:24 a.m.

surprise

Vigo
Vigo MegaDork
10/7/19 10:30 a.m.

How am i the first person to upvote this? This is cool!!

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
10/7/19 10:31 a.m.

I seem to remember that passengers are allowed on the dragstrip?  Right?  

DIBS!  

 

tomtomgt356
tomtomgt356 GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/7/19 10:33 a.m.

Will he be doing the autocross as well?

TRoglodyte
TRoglodyte UltraDork
10/7/19 10:33 a.m.

Seems like there should be a " X seconds per $ over budget " handicap here. My money is on the Nelson bunch dollar for dollar at this venue and  I consider  Big Daddy a legendary giant in motorsports, a true pioneer that cut a wide swath. What a shootout!

Dusterbd13-michael
Dusterbd13-michael MegaDork
10/7/19 10:36 a.m.

Can he judge concourse too? I mean, he is such an innovator and game changer over the years, it would be cool for him to judge tbe challenge innovation. 

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
10/7/19 10:38 a.m.

Garlits is a busy, busy guy, so I'm not exactly sure how much of his time we'll have outside of those drag passes. But it's still the coolest thing ever that he'll be at the event, right? It's up to you all to convince him to stay for the Concours!

Floating Doc
Floating Doc GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/7/19 11:07 a.m.

I am working, and won't be able to attend this year. Let me put a plug in for the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.

It's in Ocala, about a 30-minute drive down I-75 from Gainesville.

tuna55
tuna55 MegaDork
10/7/19 11:09 a.m.

Wow. That's the man.

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