Pat Garlits Memorial Award

Founder’s Award Texan Dave Dinsmore is an ideal recipient of the Founder’s Award which is emblematic of one’s career long contributions to drag racing. In many ways, some subtle, and some as obvious as a Mike Tyson delivered punch, Densmore [...]

In his own words, Jess as always been an automotive enthusiast who followed in the steps of his engine building father. While in high school Jess was active in the local car club, and by the time he graduated he [...]

Unlike a lot of racers Bill didn’t dream about becoming a professional racer. In fact, early in his life he was exposed to another sport, baseball, by his father who was an avid baseball fan and his mother who competed [...]

Bob’s love affair with cars began while he was in high school and in 1955, he became the proud owner of a 1953 Corvette which he purchased from movie star Betty Grable. While the Vette provided Bob with his first [...]

Larry “Butch” Leal grew up in central California with a fascination for cars early in his life. With a subscription to Hot Rod Magazine at age 12 his love affair was kicked into high gear. He bought his first car, [...]

Jerry Gwynn is another member of the “Drag Racing Club” who realized early in life that he had a true passion for cars, speed, and competition. Jerry’s first vehicle was a 1934 Ford pickup, and that machine would start a [...]

Born in May 1934, Shirl Greer whose father was a test driver for Henry Ford on the first auto assembly line, developed an early interest in automobiles. As a Tech Sgt. he served the Air Force during the Korean Conflict [...]

Lee Edwards, more commonly known as “The General”, started his racing career in the early 1950s with a 1939 Plymouth coupe that was powered by a Chevrolet engine. It wasn’t long before he realized he wanted to go quicker and [...]