Don Garlits to Attempt World Speed Record at Palm Beach Int’l

By dragzine July 09, 2019


The most legendary name in drag racing, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, will attempt to set a world speed record in his Swamp Rat 38 electric dragster Saturday, July 20 at Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, Fla.

Garlits, the first man to break the 200-mph barrier in a Top Fuel dragster, is now on a quest to reach the 200-mph milestone in a battery-powered dragster on PBIR’s legendary quarter-mile drag strip.

General admission tickets are $10 and children 12 and under are free. The world speed record attempt will take place during IHRA Summit SuperSeries bracket racing.

The spectator gates open at 3:00 p.m. with the first shake down of the electric dragster scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Garlits will make several runs as he attempts to set a world record.



“Big Daddy” will be on hand to meet fans and will have souvenirs available for purchase.

Garlits made a world-record pass of 7.25 seconds at 185.6 mph in an electric dragster in 2014. July 20 will be his attempt to break the 200-mph barrier.

Known as the most innovative racer in drag racing history with his series of Swamp Rat dragsters, the Florida icon has earned 17 World Championship titles and is the owner of 144 national-event wins. His record-breaking Swamp Rat 30 is enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.