Three-time NHRA Top Fuel world champ "Big Daddy" Don Garlits may no longer be driving his nitro dragster down the racetrack, but the longtime Mopar spokesman remains active with his Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla., his International Hall of Fame, and his most recent project, a new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entry that he will campaign in Stock this year. Garlits will share with NHRA.com readers periodic updates on the progress of his return to the track as well as other goings-on from his Florida headquarters.

May 18

Well, right now there is not much to report on the progress of my Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar other than that the roll cage and the Dana rear have been installed. John Donato is spearheading the project in Detroit. John took the car to the paint shop to have the floor pans and roll cage painted before we move the car to Ocala, Fla.

I have purchased a Featherlite dual-axle trailer just for the '09 Challenger, a very clean, almost-new unit that we have gone over. We will bring the Challenger here to Ocala to finish it up, and I think John is coming down to help and get a little warm sunshine — it has been a terrible winter in Detroit. Also, Jeff Garvin is going to help out, so along with Jim Hunnewell (machinist) and John’s prior experience, we should be at the track very soon.

I plan to test at Gainesville before entering any races. I need to tune myself up, and I look forward to driving the new car.

I’m really looking forward to running the Mopar Drag Pak in the doorslammers. Top Fuel has become a sport for the young guys, and in my humble opinion, the race doesn't last long enough to be exciting. The driver has become irrelevant, so to speak. Not so in these doorslammers!

April 3

The Gators are over now, and we can all take a break here at the Museum of Drag Racing. The weather was perfect, Gainesville Raceway was packed, and we had overflow crows here at the museum. Because the weather cooperated with the race, people came to the museum on Monday for their visit.

I always enjoy my trip to the Gators with Eileen Daniels; she always has one of my Swamp Rats in her booth for the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, and this year, it was Swamp Rat 5 that Pat and I campaigned alone for all of 1963. My, how times have changed!

The 19th annual Hall of Fame banquet was very successful at the new location, the Hilton University in Gainesville. The program went well with Bob Frey as master of ceremonies, always the joker, keeping everyone in stitches throughout the evening. It was very nice to see several "old-timers" get inducted, as these are the unsung heroes of our sport. People like Fritz Voigt, Ed Garlits, and Sid Waterman made many contributions early on, then Steve Carbone, Marvin Graham, and Hayden Proffitt, all very deserving racers.

The top story for the HoF was Lucas Oil Products taking over the major sponsorship of the banquet for the next three years as longtime sponsor Chrysler/Mopar has scaled back its involvement. Jerry and Pat Baltes continued on as our trophy sponsors, and we appreciate their continued support since the HoF beginning.

As for my Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar, we have it in Mike Pustelny’s MPR Chassis shop in Almont, Mich. John Donato is supervising the operation, and the rear has arrived from Mark Williams in Denver.

The guys are moving along, and I should be able to move the car to Ocala in a few weeks as soon as the roll cage and rear are in the car. Weld wheels has agreed to supply the wheels, so things are looking up.

After my initial experience with the 2008 Challenger Drag Pak in Denver during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, I can't wait to get my hands on my own Challenger to do some doorslammer racing!