The large father “Big Daddy” Don Garlits will make his return to Mo-Kan Dragway for the first time since the mid 1980’s in a two day celebration of Mo-Kan’s 60th Anniversary set for Friday and Saturday, July 15th and 16th. 

This event will be headlined by Nitro Chaos, an all nitromethane fueled, heads up, run whatcha’ brung contest of horsepower. Mo-Kan Dragway owner Carl Blanton and Nitro Chaos promoter Chris Graves have a long history and share the deep passion for the sport and feel that Nitro Chaos is the perfect event for this special race weekend and having the world’s greatest drag racer, Don Garlits to serve as feature guest and Grand Marshal truly sends this event over the top. 

“We have been planning this race since for over two years and are just thrilled and honored to welcome “Big Daddy” back to Mo-Kan. What an opportunity for our loyal fans and to have an all nitro show is going to be just a spectacular way to celebrate our 60th anniversary at the track,” says Blanton.

Mo-Kan Dragway opened in 1962 and in 1999 Carl Blanton purchased it from the original owners, Jim and Ron Wilbert. Over the years it has been the place to race across the four state area hosting long standing events like the Memorial Weekend and Labor Day Weekend Classics. The track has a weekly schedule and multiple feature events per season where families can enjoy a high octane experience at the drag strip.

Hall of Fame drag racer “Big Daddy” Don Garlits is considered the most pioneering person in the sport of drag racing. For decades, Garlits toured all across the country setting track and national records and winning series championships from coast to coast. Garlits at one time held the Mo-Kan Dragway speed record at 206 mph, likely set during one of his multiple match races at Mo-Kan with Bennie “The Wizard” Osborn. There is record of Garlits match racing at Mo-Kan from 1965 to 1967, usually with Osborn. In 1982 and 1983 Garlits returned to Mo-Kan to square off in a best of three match race with Les Shockley’s jet dragster and his final Mo-Kan appearance was in 1984 in a match race with Gene Snow. 

The special 60th Anniversary event will take place Friday night and Saturday, July 15-16th and attract nearly 200 racecars to participate in the numerous classes being contested. The professional racers of Nitro Chaos will take to the strip twice on Friday night July 15th for pro qualifying under the lights and final qualifying and eliminations will be Saturday, July 16th. 

This event is also highlighted by the first ever appearance at Mo-Kan of Jim Brewer’s “Pacemaker” wheelstander from Ohio. Kids twelve years of age and under are admitted for free and every ticket sold at Mo-Kan Dragway is a pit pass allowing everyone to experience an up close and personal day at the drags by meeting the drivers and seeing the racecars in the pit area. You can find detailed information for this event at www.mokandragway.com and www.nitrochaos.com.