November 8, 2025, Graphing Recap of IHRA at Darana Motorsports Park

The racing organization that my dad used to race with has staged a dramatic comeback this season, with the final race of their six-race season coming this past weekend.  The race was held at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, NC.  The track was formerly known as Dunn-Benson Drageay and also Galot Motorsports Park.  I had heard about the race when it was announced a few months ago, and planned to attend to show ky support.  I have fond memories of Dad going to IHRA races back in the 80s and 90s, so I would like to see this new iteration be successful. 

It was really cool that they had Big Daddy Don Garlits there signing autographs. Garlits is 93 years old, but is still up and about. I paid $20 for the above poster, which he signed in copper Sharpie. He told me while the picture was being taken that he had originally built that car for "Jungle" Jim Lieberman.  Lieberman decided against running a dragster, so Garlits kept the car for himself; he also told me "see, I would build them just as good for my customers as I would for myself!"

Of course, I had to go by and see Shirley Muldowney since she was set up at the track selling signed posters for her "Shirley's Kids" charity.  She signed two cards for me and also the above poster.  The poster and autograph were $20, and I gave her another $20 as a donation for signing my cards.  She was really funny when Chris and I walked up; complaining about eyedrops she needed to take.  She also was fretting over not being able to find her special pens she had bought for signing. I've loved Shirley since I was 3, and she has always been awesome every time I've met her.

While I was waiting for Shirley to sign my poster, Don Garlits walked over to her, hugged her and said some great things about her.  It was so cool to see these two former bitter rivals get together.  I'm glad I was able to get my phone out and take a picture of the moment.

I had to get some graphing in while I was there, so I raided my old 1990 IHRA set and also an album of drag racing cards that Mom found for me.

Del Worsham was really cool.  He had a conversation with a couple guys while he was grinding some clutch plates; doing his own work on his funny car.  He ended up winning the race, which was cool to see.  He commented on how young he was in the cards, then joked about how young Rickie Smith was on his card.

Also above, you can see that Shirley ended up finding her pen that she was looking for when she signed one of her cards in white.

I had an amazing time with Chris at the race. I was pleasantly surprised when I was recognized by several people who knew me, or my parents.  I also surprised a friend who used to race against Dad that hadn't seen me in about 18 years or so.  He and his wife were thrilled that I came out to the race.

The quality of the race was top-notch.  Chris and I picked out a spot in the stands, then barely moved for hours.  He walked to the car a couple times to drop some stuff off and get drinks from the cooler.  He shot a bunch of pictures and videos on his phone also, so i know he was enjoying himself.  He even bought me a shirt.

I posted some videos, but they didn't work.

I almost forgot, in all, I got the following autographs: Don Garlits x 1, Shirley Muldowney x 3, Chris Cline x 2, Camrie Caruso x 2, Larry McBride x 3, Keith Jackson x 1, Tommy Mauney x 5, Rickie Smith x 2 and Del Worsham x 3 (22 total autographs).

First Graphing of 2022 - North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame

Due to the MLB lockout, the usual graphing of the Wood Ducks Hot Stove event in January was canceled.  I had to wait until February to get some graphing in at the induction ceremony for the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame.  The big name on this year's class was that of Pro Modified legend, Scotty Cannon.  One of my heroes when I was growing up, I had to be there for his induction.

I ordered some single cards off of COMC, and also a couple complete sets of 1990 Checkered Flag IHRA.  I ordered one for me, and one for my buddy, Gerard.  While I was at the event, a new friend convinced me to get one for him, as well.  I befriended the son of one of the guys who used to race against my dad and bought him a set, since he liked the one I had so much.  He got the set in the mail a few weeks later, along with an assortment of signed baseball cards and a Down East Wood Ducks team set from 2021.

Finally, Chris went through the autograph line and got his grandpa to sign a couple of his cards (above).  I buy these off of Ebay when I see them.  I've given a few away to friends.  These two came out of the set that I bought for myself.  Chris also got Gerard's two cards signed.

In all, we got Dad x 4, Scotty Cannon x 8, Wally Stroupe x 2 and Harold Denton x 3, for 17 autographs on cards.  I had a great time at the ceremony and hope to go again next year.

TTM Success - Mark Thomas

When I searched for 1989 IHRA Chrckered Flag cards, I was mainly looking for some of my dad, but I also picked up some of a couple other guys who I know from back then.  The goal was to get some that I could send TTM and add to my album.

Mark Thomas is considered the greatest Alcohol Funny Car driver in IHRA history, having won countless races and multiple championships. 

I met Mark as he was being towed back to his pit area at the Gateway Nationals in St. Louis in 1989.  I had ran up and asked him of he had any of these cards (since i had seen him win the Winternationals on TV earlier that year).  Obviously, he didn't run a race with the cards in his pocket, so he didn't have any on him.  The next morning, outside of the racetrack, Dad was getting fuel at a gas station and I was sitting in the truck.  Someone tapped on the window; it was Mark with a handful of cards.  

We have kept in touch since then, and I was able to watch his career play out.  Always a great guy, it was really awesome watching him, over time, become the legend that he is.

Mark has since retired to his farming operation, but we still keep in touch.  I've been trying to talk him into stepping into a gear jammer so he can come down and enter the race Dad puts on every year.

I mailed to Mark on January 25 and got the card back signed on March 11, for a 45-day TAT.  I sent two cards and gave one of the to Chris once they came back.  Mark also included a note asking me to tell Mom and Dad hello.  Thanks so much, Mark!

TTM Success - Dale Pulde

This TTM success took some patience.  I got this card, which is a 1973 Fleer AHRA drag racing card that I got from the old card shop in Winston-Salem out of a shoe box of cards that someone brought in to sell.  I held onto the cards (there were a handful of these 1973 Fleer) for a while until Chris was old enough to handle them, and gave the cards to him.  

Fast forward several years, we were looking through one of the albums and I found this card.  I realized it was Dale Pulde, who I really liked when I was younger because he had one of the best looking funny cars of all time, the Miller High Life Warrior.  I wish they had cards of that one, because I'd have sent that off.  

Still, I thought this one was cool and would be a cool addition to my album.  I was unable to find his address, so I messaged his Facebook page and waited.  I finally got a response a few months later saying where I could send the card, and I sent it along.  It looks really cool now that it is signed, and I was super glad to get it completed.

Pulde has six career NHRA national event wins and was IHRA Champion three times.  It is pretty tough finding bio information on him, but I recommend a google search of his War Eagle and Miller High Life Warrior Funny Cars.  They were awesome paint jobs back in the day.