Darrell Gwynn's Top Fuel victory at the 1990 Gatornationals was the final one in a brilliant but all-too-brief racing career.

Twenty years after Darrell Gwynn’s final NHRA national event win as a driver, his famed Coors Extra Gold Special Top Fuel dragster colors will streak down Gainesville Raceway during the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals. This time, Doug Kalitta will be in the cockpit.

As a tribute to Gwynn’s second consecutive Gainesville victory at the 1990 Gatornationals, Kalitta Motorsports donated a dragster to bear Gwynn’s marquee paint scheme during this year’s race. The special dragster not only will honor Gwynn’s on-track achievements, but it also will recognize the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s ongoing work to provide education about spinal-cord-injury prevention, offer support to those with spinal-cord injuries and debilitating disease, and raise funds to help find a cure.

Gwynn was paralyzed from the chest down in an on-track accident one month after his 1990 Gatornationals victory.

“I’ve known Darrell and the entire Gwynn family for a long time. We had some fun races together, and I have always respected him as a racer and a person,” said team owner and drag racing legend Connie Kalitta. “It’s an honor for us to be able to run this dragster for Darrell and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville.” 
 
In addition to the Kalitta tribute car, a meticulously replicated 20th Anniversary Coors Extra Gold Special show version of Gwynn’s 1990 Top Fuel dragster will be displayed on the track Midway. The show car, which was sold three times during the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., in January, was given back to Gwynn first by Ron Pratte, then by Bill Gannon. Its final purchaser, Floridian Joe Riley, also returned it to Gwynn so that it can be auctioned again at the West Palm Beach Barrett-Jackson Auction in April. Fans are invited to visit the Darrell Gwynn Foundation display, take photos of the car, and contribute to the foundation’s goal of raising $1 million through the show car. Nearly $500,000 already has been raised.

On Sunday, March 14, at 8 a.m., prior to eliminations, drivers and team owners will join Gwynn for a special Track Walk for Those Who Can’t on quarter-mile Gainesville Raceway. Fans will be able to get up close and personal with Gwynn and top drivers by walking with them on the famed track for a donation of $20 or more to the foundation. 

“I raced against Connie and the Kalitta team, so our relationship goes back decades,” said Gwynn. “I am so grateful for what Kalitta Motorsports is doing through the donation of one of its cars to mark the 20th anniversary of my last national event victory and, more important, for helping raise awareness and money for my new race – winning the battle against spinal-cord injury and debilitating disease on behalf of all those afflicted by them.”

The foundation’s public outreach will be readily apparent to drivers and fans Sunday afternoon when Gwynn presents a custom motorized wheelchair to racing fan Brian Robinson. A Juno Beach, Fla., resident who has a form of muscular dystrophy, Robinson will receive his new wheelchair at the starting line in front of 50,000 fans right before Sunday’s eliminations.

“We are so glad that Darrell and Kalitta Motorsports joined forces to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his last win in Gainesville. Darrell’s contributions to our sport and now to help those with spinal-cord injuries are truly remarkable,” added Doug Kalitta. “The last time the Coors Extra Gold dragster was on the track in Gainesville, it went to the winner’s circle with Darrell. We hope we can return it there again for him.” 
 
Gwynn won 28 national events and made the quickest run in drag racing history at the time. In his famed Coors Extra Gold Special, Gwynn won the 1989 U.S. Nationals and 1990 Gatornationals, among other races, and on March 2, 1990, set an elapsed time record of 4.909 at Houston Raceway Park. One month later, his career was cut short by his tragic crash at England’s Santa Pod Raceway.

But Gwynn wasn’t ready to stop competing. Through the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, he is committed to raising awareness and money to help children and young adults who are living with spinal-cord injuries and debilitating disease. His organization spearheads spinal-cord-injury education programs, supports long-term health-care services for new spinal-cord-injury patients, and raises funds for a cure. As part of its Wheelchair Donation Program, the foundation has given approximately 100 custom power wheelchairs (each costing between $10,000 and $30,000) to individuals in need across the country.

For Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals ticket information, call 800-884-6472 or log on to www.nhra.com. Fans wishing to take part in the Darrell Gwynn Foundation Track Walk can sign up at the Darrell Gwynn Foundation booth behind the Top Eliminator Club at Gainesville Raceway.

For more information on the foundation and the programs it supports, log on to www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org or call 954-792-7223.