Don Carlton
The career of the first Pro Stock driver inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame began at age 5 when Don Carlton’s daddy built him a scaled-down midget racer. However straight-line competition was always the youngster’s preference. After achieving some local success in match racing in his native South, Carlton’s big break finally arrived in the form of a highway accident, suffered while flat towing his 1968 Hemi Cuda. Local legend Buddy Martin arranged to purchase the car and gave Don a job. Besides driving his old car, Carlton did extensive testing for the Sox and Martin. That led to full-time work as a Chrysler test driver and pilot of the “Motown Missile” Dodge Challenger. His first timeout, Don was the Pro Stock runner-up to former boss Ronnie Sox at the 1971 Gator Nationals; exactly one year later, Carlton returned to win the event. Carlton continued to win with Mopar’s in the 70s, despite the one-two-three punch of a reduced factory backing; weight handicaps for full-sized Hemi pro cars; and NHRA’s pro-stock ban on Hemi engines in imported Chrysler bodies. Midway through the 1977 season, he led all NHRA Comp Eliminator racers with five national event victories. Two additional Pro Stock wins tied him for seventh in all-time NHRA Oscars. Don’s 1977 Spring Nationals victory came just three weeks before the fatal crash of his B/Altered Dodge Colt during a Chrysler test session.