THE TWO DON’S

Two nice guys, drag racing legends, and long-time Total Impact Wear customers Don Schumacher and BIG DADDY Don Garlits.

As a driver/crew chief/owner, Don Schumacher owner of Don Schumacher Racing won 5 Nitro Funny Car NHRA National events including the 1970 ‘Big Go’ US Nationals at Indy. Don Schumacher Racing has done it all amassing 19 NHRA Championship Drag Racing World Championships, 366 NHRA Championship Drag Racing national event victories, and setting numerous NHRA track records in the Nitro Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster categories. In 2007, Don was inducted into the prestigious International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. In 2019, Don was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America & his numerous drag racing accomplishments are absolutely amazing.

BIG DADDY Don Garlits is arguably the most legendary drag racer of all-time. Based out of Florida, BIG DADDY was considered an outsider by the West Coast drag racers who called him ‘Swamp Rat’, and not in an affectionate manner either. In 1959, BIG DADDY came out to California, which was considered the mecca of drag racing and mopped up the local West Coast drag racers. Instead of being upset with the ‘Swamp Rat’ name that was bestowed upon him, BIG DADDY showed ultimate class and embraced the nickname. To this day all of BIG DADDY’s dragsters are called Swamp Rat I, II, III, IV, etc. BIG DADDY Don Garlits drag racing supremacy helped grow the sport beyond its West Coast base & he went on to dominate drag racing for many years afterwards with 17 combined NHRA, IHRA and AHRA Top Fuel World Championships. The West Coast drag racers learned ‘Real Fast’…you don’t mess with BIG DADDY. BIG DADDY is also the innovator of the rear engine Top Fuel Dragster that we know today following a scary 1970 accident at Lions Drag Strip while piloting Swamp Rat XIII, which severed off a portion of his right foot.  BIG DADDY Don Garlits is an inductee of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Automotive Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.  Needless to say…BIG DADDY Don Garlits drag racing accomplishments and innovations are historically staggering!