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NHRA: Legend Prudomme to join distinguished list of drivers in Hall of Fame

11 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
TALLADEGA, Ala. - National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) legend Don "The Snake" Prudhomme will join five other distinguished drivers from various motorsports venues to form the class of 2000 for induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on April 13.

The 10th annual ceremony will be held in the Hall of Fame's spacious Speedvision Dome. Prudhomme is the third NHRA member to be selected for the prestigious honor. NHRA founder Wally Parks was inducted in 1992, and 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits, a three-time Top Fuel champion with 35 career victories, entered the Hall in 1997.

Prudhomme, from Granada Hills, Calif., won four consecutive NHRA Funny Car championships from 1975-'78. During his 32-year-career he earned 49 NHRA victories (35 in Funny Car and 14 in Top Fuel), ranking him sixth among career leaders in NHRA national event victories. During his popular 'Final Strike Tour' in 1994, Prudhomme earned three Top Fuel victories and won the Winston Invitational, NHRA's all-star event, to finish second overall in the Winston point standings during his final season behind the wheel.

Among his many milestone Funny Car performances, he was the first to record a time quicker than six seconds; and the first to post a speed of 250 mph. He won the U.S. Nationals, NHRA's most prestigious event, seven times.

Prudhomme continues his involvement in NHRA competition as a team owner, fielding a Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon, and a Funny Car driven by Ron Capps. Prudhomme has celebrated 15 victories as a car owner, including eight wins from Dixon, and seven from Capps.

Others to be inducted alongside Prudhomme include Mario Andretti, a winner of four Indy Car titles and one Formula One championship; seven-time Indy Car champ A.J. Foyt; three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet; land speed racer Craig Breedlove, the first driver to record speeds over 400, 500 and 600 miles per hour; and the late Ayrton Senna, also a three-time Formula One champion.

Ticket information for the induction ceremony is available at (256) 362-5002.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 85,000 racers and members nationwide and 142 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages eight to 17.

Text provided by NHRA

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.