Drag racing legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme received the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet on November 7. The award was presented by Terry L. Karges, Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Prudhomme began his NHRA career in 1962, achieving 49 career wins, ranking fifth in NHRA history. After retiring from driving in 1994, he founded Don Prudhomme Racing, securing NHRA Top Fuel championships in 2002 and 2003 with driver Larry Dixon.

Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000, Prudhomme’s rivalry with Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen was highlighted in the 2013 film “Snake and Mongoose.”

“Don Prudhomme is a true legend on and off the track and he was a good friend of Mr. Petersen,” Karges said. “The Snake is beloved by drag racing diehards and non-racing fans alike, and his achievements have left a lasting legacy in motorsports. We are proud to celebrate Don with this award and honored to have him as part of our museum family.”

The award, named after the museum’s founder, has also been awarded to notable figures including Dan Gurney, Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, and Ed Iskenderian.