Swamp Rat Alley Roars Back to the NHRA Gatornationals

Four Iconic Don Garlits Dragsters Set to Thrill Fans on Display...

Robert S. Miller February 21, 2025

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits piloting his Swamp Rat 1-B Dragster. (Don Garlits Museum).

Swamp Rat Alley is making its return to the NHRA Gatornationals for the third consecutive year, bringing fans an up-close look at four historic dragsters built and raced by the Mopar legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. As part of the 56th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway from March 6 – 9, 2025, this must-see attraction inside Hot Rod Junction will showcase key pieces of drag racing history.

A Look at the Four Historic Swamp Rat Dragsters –

Swamp Rat I Purple Car Dragster. (Don Garlits Museum).

Swamp Rat I Purple Car – Inspired by Mel Heath’s purple dragster that won the 1956 NHRA U.S. Nationals, Garlits painted his own Swamp Rat I purple. This car was capable of running 10.4 seconds at 140 mph, a serious contender in its time.

Swamp Rat I 176 MPH Dragster. (Don Garlits Museum).

Swamp Rat 1: The 176-mph Car – With aerodynamic tweaks and a revamped fuel system, this version of Swamp Rat 1 shattered records. It ran an 8.79-second pass at 176.40 mph, a world record at the time and a moment Garlits described as “a shot heard around the world.”

Swamp Rat I First Time Out Dragster. (Don Garlits Museum).

Swamp Rat 1: First Time Out -– A faithful recreation of the original Swamp Rat I as it appeared at the Brooksville, Florida airport in 1956. It ran 10.3 seconds at 128 mph, setting the stage for Garlits’ incredible career.

Swamp Rat 1-B Dragster. (Don Garlits Museum).

Swamp Rat 1-B – Built-in 1959 and driven by Art Malone, this car initially set a record at 183.66 mph in Sanford, Maine. By 1961, Garlits piloted it to a historic 204.54 mph, making it only the second dragster to surpass 200 mph. The original was retired, but Garlits and Jim Hunnewell built an exact replica in 2004.

More Than Just Racing: A Full Weekend of NHRA Action –

Tony Stewart piloting his Dodge // Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. (TSR Nitro).

Swamp Rat Alley is just one of the many highlights at the Gatornationals. The event also features the prestigious NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opener, headlined by 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car machines blasting down the strip at speeds exceeding 330 mph.

The weekend’s festivities begin with the “International Drag Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony” on March 6, honoring legends like Charlie Allen, Phil Burgess, Gary Dyer, and more. On race weekend, fans can catch Mopar stars like Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan battling for early-season supremacy.

Matt Hagan piloting his Dodge // Direct Connection Charger SRT HELLCAT Funny Car. (TSR Nitro).

For those looking to enhance their experience, “the Gainesville Top Eliminator Club” offers premium seating and exclusive perks, making it the best weekend to enjoy. General admission remains family-friendly, with children 12 and under getting in free with an adult ticket.

Swamp Rat Alley at Gatornationals is a golden opportunity to step back in time and witness the machines that helped shape drag racing as we know it today. For tickets and event details, visit NHRA.com/tickets.