We are in the last part of a space in time when we can pay live and literal homage to the very people that took drag racing from a backyard activity to a professional sporting venture. There was a space in time when baseball fans could see Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Jimmy Foxx, and other superstars, foundational super stars get on the field one last time. Don Garlits just turned 87 years old. Every person involved in this will never compete professionally again in a sport that they helped launch to heights even Wally Parks could have never imagined. No other American sport can give the people who really built their activity a send off like this in modern times. We can.
I get the criticism that this group of people does not appeal to the sensibilities of 20 year old kids. I also know that when you reach the golden milestone of an event's legacy, you celebrate it by looking over the scope of its history. You are going to see a different attitude and approach to concentrating as much star making horsepower on young talent in 2019 as we can.
Hell, we just shot an NHRA in 30 called "Great Aspirations" concentrating on the young movers and shakers in the sport in ways you've never seen them before.
There are few times in sport where someone can pinpoint the exact time and place you'll see something once and never again. That's what this is. To this point the Gatornationals have exceeded anyone's wildest expectations in pre-race fan commitments and engagement. People are coming to be part of a once in a lifetime deal and that's what they are going to get. This is one part of that.
Lastly, regarding the previous post to this one, yes. Garlits has a newly revised electric dragster and wouldn't be be something else if he could break 200mph in front of what will be one of the largest crowds in NHRA drag racing history? Stay tuned.
Brian
