Connie Swingle
Connie Swingle came from Oklahoma in 1959 and went to Garlits’ shop on Nebraska Avenue and made the announcement, “I’m ready to weld”! From that day on, some of the finest dragsters ever produce were welded by Swingle, containing some very trick innovations on cars. Garlits’ Swamp Rat III driven by Swingle was the first dragster in sevens with a 7.99 ET at 198.88 mph in Blaney, South Carolina. Swingle’s other important cars were Swamp Rat VI the first dragster officially over 200 mph, Swamp Rat VIII the first 426 dragster to run 219 mph, and Swamp Rat 14 the first successful rear engine dragster and clearly the most important contribution drag racing. Though Garlits was given credit for the innovation that would change the sport forever, it was Swingle’s craftsmanship and perseverance that kept the team going back to the track over and over until the car handled correctly. Swingle was also a driver in his own right. He drove Swamp Rat III to over 25 track records. Driving for Ed Pink in 1966, he outran Garlits for the Mickey Thompson 200 MPH Meet at Fontana, California. He also tests drove the “Yellow Fang” for Ed Roth and the “Piranha” for AMT in the late 60s. Big Daddy has summarized Connie’s career by adding, “I couldn’t have done it without him”.