Don Garlits had a good time racing at the 55th Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals in Clermont, Ind. And, even though drag racing’s elder statesman was eliminated early in Stock class eliminations, he had the time of his life.

A man known for his exploits behind the wheel of a nitro-guzzling Top Fuel dragster, Garlits drove one of the new Hemi Dodge Drag Pak Challengers within the A/Stock Automatic division.  His 10.432 elapsed time, -.868 under the class index, was 144th in the 128-car field.

“It was exciting and coming here to Indy made it even better,” said Garlits, who last raced the U.S. Nationals in 2003 alongside Shirley Muldowney. “When I pulled up to the line for that first round in A/Stock Automatic it was just like old times. All the good feelings came back.”

His first round class eliminations opponent was multi-time sportsman champion Dan Fletcher.

The cagey Garlits, who was treed by Judy Lilly last season in the Drag Pak exhibition introduction, cut Fletcher no slack with a .007 reaction.

“It was just like being young again,” Garlits beamed.

So, a lucky guess or skills that he never lost?

“I left on yellow,” Garlits confessed with a smile.

Which yellow?

“The last one,” he said with a chuckle.

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