Race Rock - Don "The Snake" Prudhomme

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme

Dwight Eisenhower was the President and television was still gaining in popularity when Don Prudhomme was getting his first taste of drag racing.

Prudhomme used to race a 1946 Ford on streets between the Orange groves of California's San Fernando Valley in the mid-1950's. Smitten with the sport, the teenager built bigger and better cars.

In the early 1960's, Prudhomme was taking his race car to the tracks--and winning. His first major victory at the 1962 Smokers Meet at Bakersfield, California demonstrated that he was a driver of promise. But no one 33 years ago, not even Prudhomme, could have predicted the success this kid from the San Fernando Valley would have in a sport that was maturing just as he was.

During his remarkable four-decade career, Prudhomme won 49 NHRA races in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, the most by any driver. He became the first driver to win four straight Winston Series Funny Car championships (1975-78), won seven of eight series races in 1976 and 13 of 16 in 1975-76, and was the first Funny Car driver to break 250 mph.

Thirty-two years after that memorable Bakersfield win, Prudhomme, 53, decided to quit drag racing. He exited in a blaze of glory, winning three NHRA races, finishing second twice, winning the Winston Invitational all-star event and finishing second in points to champion Scott Kalitta.

At each of the 19 races, thousands of fans bid farewell to the man who had become a legend in the sport of drag racing. There were children, parents and grandparents waving and applauding during what Prudhomme dubbed his "Final Strike Tour." Some remembered him from the early days when he drove front-engined dragsters and won five national events (1965-70). Others recalled the days when he and fellow racer Tom McEwen were popularized by Mattel Toys' "Snake and Mongoose" Hot Wheels sets. (Prudhomme was given the nickname in the 1960's because he had quick starting-time reaction times, and it stuck.) All respected his success and longevity as a driver.

Prudhomme may be retired as a driver, but he carries his competitive spirit into his new role as owner-operator of the Miller Genuine Draft Top Fuel team featuring driver Larry Dixon Jr., the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

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