Garlits Misses Goal but Regains Speed Record : His 265.01-m.p.h. Run at Pomona Once Again Makes Him Fastest Drag Racer

Twenty-eight years after setting his first world drag racing record, Big Daddy Don Garlits reclaimed the sport’s top speed mark Friday with a run of 265.01 m.p.h. at the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona.

Garlits, 53, fell short of his goal of 270 m.p.h., but his qualifying run for Sunday’s Winston World Finals broke the record of 264.70, set by Joe Amato in 1984 at Old Bridge, N.J.

When Garlits first broke into the record books in 1957 at Brooksville, Fla., his speed was 176.40 m.p.h.

In the complicated statistical world of National Hot Rod Assn. drag racing, records are not set in a single quarter-mile run--the way you might expect. A run must be “backed up” during the same meet by a second run of relatively the same speed.

Thus Garlits’ 268.01-m.p.h. effort Thursday--the fastest single run in drag racing history--was the “back-up” for Friday’s speed. And, to compound the confusion, if Garlits runs 265.33 or better today or Sunday, the record will automatically become 268.01. That is because if a back-up speed is within 1% of the top speed, the faster one is the official record.

“Track conditions were a little off today,” Garlits said a few minutes after his run as he tore down his 2,500-horsepower Dodge engine, meticulously inspecting each of the 12 sparkplugs for damage. “It was a little oily. We took away a little top end traction to compensate for it, and it didn’t like that.”

Garlits said he was pleased to get the record, even if he did not come close to 270, but said from now on his emphasis will be on winning his fourth World Finals. He has already clinched the Winston World championship by winning 6 of 12 NHRA national events.

“The run felt good, the ET (5.48 seconds elapsed time) was very good, just what we were hoping for. I haven’t learned to feel the difference between 265 and 268, so I was pleased the way the car handled. I can still do 270 this weekend. The weather (in the low 70s) was nearly perfect. If I feel like I’m on a good one the next day or two, I’ll run it through the lights full power. But as for chasing the record, that’s behind us. Now, we’re chasing the two championships this week.”

Speed is determined by a speed trap, which starts 66 feet before the finish line and extends 66 feet beyond it. This can account for wide disparities between ET and top speed. For instance, Connie Kalitta ran the 1,320 feet in 5.49 seconds, only a blink of an eye slower than Garlits’ 5.48, yet his top speed was 10 m.p.h. less. That is because Kalitta shut off his engine at the finish line, while Garlits powered through those additional 66 feet.

Today, the Cragar/Weld Wheel Top Fuel Classic matches the eight leading qualifiers for the season in a $50,000 showdown. First prize is $30,000.

Garlits will meet Bill Mullins of Pelham, Ala., winner of the Springnationals in Columbus, Ohio, in the first round at 11 a.m. Other pairings: Amato vs. Darrell Gwynn, Gary Ormsby vs. Gary Beck and Kalitta vs. Dick LaHaie.

Following two more qualifying runs today, the 16 cars with the lowest ETs will make up the field for Sunday’s eliminations. That payoff is $25,000.

Every run Garlits makes, which will be at least two today and one Sunday, will count toward matching up with the 268.01 run for a record.

Garlits will also be back in his favorite right lane for today’s first run.

“I imagine there’s no difference (in the two lanes), but I’ve always been partial to the right lane here at Pomona. It was funny about the two runs I’ve had. They were kind of in reverse of what we expected. I thought I’d go a solid 265 Thursday and come back with the 268 today, but it worked the other way around.”

Garlits last set the top fuel record when he broke the 250-m.p.h. barrier in 1975 at Ontario Motor Speedway. His record of 250.69 lasted seven years--the longest-standing record in NHRA history--until Mark Oswald ran 256.41 in 1982 at Brainard, Minn..

Funny car driver Kenny Bernstein of Newport Beach and pro stocker Bob Glidden of Whiteland, Ind., continued to dominate their classes. Like Garlits, both have already won the season championship, and both were quickest after two days of qualifying.

Bernstein ran a 254.66 m.p.h. in his Ford Tempo, while Glidden’s Thursday speed of 184.42 in his Ford Thunderbird remained best among the pro stocks.