Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LV’s Clapshaw to lend Garlits dragster for Indy run

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 11:45 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits will get his chance to finally crack the 300-mph barrier in a Top Fuel dragster -- with a little help from Las Vegas' Gary Clapshaw.

Garlits' attempt to compete in next weekend's NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis nearly was sidelined when, first, his deal to run Tony Schumacher's backup dragster fell through and, later, he ran out of time to get his own Swamp Rat 34 to meet current NHRA specifications.

That's when Clapshaw stepped in and offered Garlits, 69, the use of his "Spirit of Las Vegas" Top Fuel dragster.

"He told me he was following the thing and when it got down to the point (when) he suspected there were going to be some technical problems when the time was running out," Garlits said of Clapshaw.

"He got on the phone and said, 'Look, if you can't make this thing, I'm available.' It was as simple as that. I called him back as soon as I pulled the plug (on the Swamp Rat) and said, 'Let's do it,' and it was a done deal (Tuesday) afternoon."

Despite winning three NHRA Top Fuel championships and 35 national events during his career, Garlits retired from competitive racing in 1992 having never eclipsed the 5-second or 300-mph barriers. It appears certain he will get his 300-mph run next weekend; Clapshaw ran a 4.68 at 312 mph in the Top Fueler at last year's U.S. Nationals.

Garlits, who introduced the first rear-engine dragster to the sport in 1971, said he first got the idea of trying to make a 300-mph run at the U.S. Nationals when he learned that another legendary driver, Shirley Muldowney, had entered this year's event. At the time, Garlits' intention was to make a few passes, try to surpass 300 mph, perhaps make it a round or two into eliminations and head back to his home in Ocala, Fla.

Now that he will be driving Clapshaw's "Spirit of Las Vegas," Garlits has a loftier goal going into the U.S. Nationals.

"It puts a whole different light on the subject," Garlits said of getting the Clapshaw ride. "Prior to that, I was just going to Indianapolis to make a few runs ... but I didn't have any aspirations of actually being in the race with any prominence.

"The Clapshaw operation changes everything. I have the potential to win the race now."

Clapshaw agreed.

"It's not an easy thing to give up the seat at Indy but when you look at the big picture, I think it's a pretty nice thing for the fans, the association, and the racers," he said. "If it goes from A to B and doesn't spit the belt, he's going to get a pretty respectable time.

"We're not just going there to do that, though; we're going there to qualify and go some rounds."

Garlits said he was grateful to Clapshaw for the use of his dragster.

"I take my hat off to (Clapshaw)," Garlits said. "He is doing a really good deed to the fans because this is going to be unbelievable at Indianapolis. There are going to be so many people there, children of the parents that never saw Big Daddy go down the quarter-mile and they're going to get a chance to see this."

Smith has undergone two surgeries -- one to repair a compound fracture in his left leg and ankle and another to set and strengthen his left wrist and forearm.

Smith's injuries occurred when Scelzi's dragster impacted Smith's after Scelzi's car suffered a massive engine explosion midway through the run.