Don Prudhomme
Encyclopedia
Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme, (born April 6, 1941, San Fernando, California
) is an American drag racer.
In 1962, Prudhomme was a partner in the Greer-Black
-Prudhomme digger, which earned the best win record in NHRA history, before switching to Funny Car
. He would win the NHRA FC championship four times in his thirty-five-year career. He was the first Funny Car driver to exceed 250 mph (402.3 km/h). He retired in 1994 to manage his own racing team. With driver Larry Dixon
, Prudhomme's team won the Top Fuel
championship in 2002 and 2003. In 2009, Dixon signed to drive the Al-Anabi Top Fuel Dragster, and Spencer Massey took over Prudhomme's car. At the end of the 2009 racing season, sponsorship went away and Prudhomme retired from active racing. Prudhomme was known for his yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda
in which he raced rival driver Tom McEwen
in his red 1970 Plymouth Duster
, named Mongoose. Both drivers gained wider public attention from Mattel
's "Hot Wheels" toy versions of the cars that were released in 1970. Hot Wheels celebrated their 35th anniversary in 2005 with a two day event.
San Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
) is an American drag racer.
Racing career
Keith Black (engineer)
Keith Black was a producer of high performance drag racing engines, often used in Top Fuel and Tractor pulling applications.-Racing:...
-Prudhomme digger, which earned the best win record in NHRA history, before switching to Funny Car
Funny Car
Funny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
. He would win the NHRA FC championship four times in his thirty-five-year career. He was the first Funny Car driver to exceed 250 mph (402.3 km/h). He retired in 1994 to manage his own racing team. With driver Larry Dixon
Larry Dixon (drag racer)
Larry Dixon, Jr. is a professional drag racer in the NHRA. Larry is the son of Larry Dixon, Sr., who won one national event.-1980s and 1990s:...
, Prudhomme's team won the Top Fuel
Top Fuel
Top Fuel racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing...
championship in 2002 and 2003. In 2009, Dixon signed to drive the Al-Anabi Top Fuel Dragster, and Spencer Massey took over Prudhomme's car. At the end of the 2009 racing season, sponsorship went away and Prudhomme retired from active racing. Prudhomme was known for his yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda is a 2-door car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964-1974.The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had a distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from 1964-1966.The...
in which he raced rival driver Tom McEwen
Tom McEwen
Tom McEwen, is an American drag racer, who won the U.S. Nationals during part of his 45 year career. He is listed as number 16 of the 50 most significant drivers of NHRA’s first 50 years. He received the nickname "the Mongoose" in 1964 from engine builder Ed Donovan. It was largely originally used...
in his red 1970 Plymouth Duster
Plymouth Duster
The first Plymouth Duster was a semi-fastback version of the Plymouth Valiant automobile, produced in the US from 1970 to 1976.The Duster name was later revived for optional trim packages on certain versions of the 1979-1980 Plymouth Volare, 1985-1987 Plymouth Turismo, and 1992-1994 Plymouth...
, named Mongoose. Both drivers gained wider public attention from Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
's "Hot Wheels" toy versions of the cars that were released in 1970. Hot Wheels celebrated their 35th anniversary in 2005 with a two day event.
Awards
- In 2000 he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of FameInternational Motorsports Hall of FameThe International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer...
. - He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 1991. - On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers 1951-2000, Don Prudhomme was ranked #3.