MO-KAN Dragway 60th Anniversary Summer; The legendary Don Garlits returns this weekend

JASPER COUNTY, Mo. — This weekend the ’60th Anniversary Summer of MO-KAN Dragway’ continues with special guest, the father of drag racing, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

Carl Blanton has owned MO-KAN since 1999. He is the second owner, purchasing it from cousins Ron and Jim Wilbert.

This weekend is almost a ‘full circle’ moment for Blanton. He recently shared a memory of his own as a young man growing up in Oklahoma.

“Don Garlits was in Tulsa with his National Challenge ’72 race. I won a contest to have breakfast with Don on Saturday morning. Now, 50 years later, Don will appear at our race track as we celebrate our 60th anniversary.” – Carl Blanton of MO-KAN Dragway

This isn’t the first time Garlits has been to MO-Kan. “In 1982 and 1983 Don Garlits returned to Mo-Kan to square off in a best of three match race with Les Shockley’s jet dragster.

The late Shockley would go on in 1984 to create the Shockwave Jet Truck. The same jet truck concept truck that would later sell to Darnell Racing, which recently crashed at a Michigan air show killing Missouri driver, Chris Darnell.

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In 1982, Shockey came into the match race as the track record holder for speed at 274 mph! Shockley beat Garlits in all three runs as Garlits’ best times of 6.08, 6.09 and 6.11 were no match for Shockey who re-set both ends of the track record with a 5.99 at 276! 1983 was the re-match, but we have no official record of those results,” MO-KAN states in a release of information.

This weekend at MO-Kan features Don Garlits, but also Nitro Chaos. As ground pounding $35,000 heads up battle as nitro burning dragsters, funny cars and fuel altereds take on each other outlaw style.

Also fans will have a chance to see, Jim Brewer’s Peacemaker Wheelstander, Sportsman Racing, and a Fireworks show both nights.

Friday – July 15
Pit Gate Opens @ 1 pm
Spectator Gate Opens @ 4 pm
Sportsman Test and Tune @ 6 pm
PRO Qualifying @ 7 + 9:30 pm
Wheelstander + Garlits Cackle @ 9 pm

Saturday – July 16
Gates Open @ 9 am
Sportsman Time Trials @ 10 am
PRO Final Qualifier @ 2 pm
PRO Eliminations Start @ 6 pm
Wheelstander + Garlits Cackle @ 9 pm
PRO Final Rounds @ 10 pm

Spectator Admission – pay at the gates
Friday $20 / Saturday $30

Sponsors presenting this 60th Anniversary Summer include: DMP Awnings, Twisted Shifterz, 360-Steel, Wulff Pumps, DeezNuts Lug Nuts, Triple C Agency.com and Red Line Shirt Club.

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