Garlits and Stock Class Racing

chris3racing · 07-21-2012, 10:02 AM

Don't know how many watch ESPN3 racing coverage, but last night Friday qualifying show, Garlits was in the booth with Paul Page and Mike Dunn. They were playing around with Twitter. Someone posed the question to Garlits if he had an unlimited money sponsorship would he go back to race top fuel. His response was no that he had made a promise to his wife not to run fuel again. He commented that he was having so much fun with the stocker. He said that racing a stocker was not easy in fact if any fueler thought it was easy they should post a number on the window, stage the car, and run off of that dial. Trying to be either under or dead on at the top end side by side. Of course Mike Dunn laught and Garlits set him straight that it is not easy to race those cars and be on at the stripe. I know there are not many people here who speak very kindly of Garlits, but, over years of knowing him, these comments, if ESPN2 does not cut this part of his time out, can not hurt sportsman racing particularly Stock and Superstock

Ed Wright · 07-21-2012, 10:09 AM

Why would people not speak kindly of him?

rawhide · 07-21-2012, 10:57 AM

I have always found Big to be pleasant and cordial
regards

69Cobra · 07-21-2012, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawhide

i have always found big to be pleasant and cordial
regards

x2

Bob Bender · 07-21-2012, 05:24 PM

x3

Bill Belden · 07-21-2012, 06:07 PM

X4

Lambertcars · 07-21-2012, 08:09 PM

X5

Ron Ortiz · 07-21-2012, 09:21 PM

Spoke to him in the lanes a couple of years ago when he first came out with his stocker. Told me he was having more fun than T/F, due to their taking the driver out of the race with timers and such. That we sportsman should get way more coverage on TV and was totally sincere in his statements.

I grew up admiring all kinds of different individuals, and really respect a whole bunch of other people, but really never had a most favorite. That changed that day with Mr. Garlits.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA class is class

Bob Don · 07-21-2012, 10:00 PM

Great guy! I had a great time running him in the first round of stock at last year's Supernationals. We were pitted near each other became friendly as well. He signed the time slip from our run too!

Lew Silverman · 07-21-2012, 10:53 PM

X6

I think over the years people may have confused Mr. Garlits intensity with aloofness. He was always focused on whatever job was at hand, and tuning and driving a TF car is serious business. I'm glad to see that he has found some enjoyment in racing in Stock Class, because I never expected to be able to race against him in a fueler.

Lew

07-21-2012, 10:02 AM	#1
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Garlits and Stock Class Racing Don't know how many watch ESPN3 racing coverage, but last night Friday qualifying show, Garlits was in the booth with Paul Page and Mike Dunn. They were playing around with Twitter. Someone posed the question to Garlits if he had an unlimited money sponsorship would he go back to race top fuel. His response was no that he had made a promise to his wife not to run fuel again. He commented that he was having so much fun with the stocker. He said that racing a stocker was not easy in fact if any fueler thought it was easy they should post a number on the window, stage the car, and run off of that dial. Trying to be either under or dead on at the top end side by side. Of course Mike Dunn laught and Garlits set him straight that it is not easy to race those cars and be on at the stripe. I know there are not many people here who speak very kindly of Garlits, but, over years of knowing him, these comments, if ESPN2 does not cut this part of his time out, can not hurt sportsman racing particularly Stock and Superstock

07-21-2012, 10:09 AM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing Why would people not speak kindly of him? __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-21-2012, 10:57 AM	#3
rawhide Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 270 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing I have always found Big to be pleasant and cordial regards

07-21-2012, 05:24 PM	#5
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,730 Likes: 1,595 Liked 459 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing x3 __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

07-21-2012, 06:07 PM	#6
Bill Belden Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: York, PA Posts: 241 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing X4 __________________ Bill Belden Retired Stock Eliminator [emailSTK1100@comcast.net[/email]

07-21-2012, 08:09 PM	#7
Lambertcars Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Johns Island SC Posts: 114 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing X5

07-21-2012, 09:21 PM	#8
Ron Ortiz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Englewood, Florida Posts: 988 Likes: 33 Liked 315 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing Spoke to him in the lanes a couple of years ago when he first came out with his stocker. Told me he was having more fun than T/F, due to their taking the driver out of the race with timers and such. That we sportsman should get way more coverage on TV and was totally sincere in his statements. I grew up admiring all kinds of different individuals, and really respect a whole bunch of other people, but really never had a most favorite. That changed that day with Mr. Garlits. Ron Ortiz U/SA class is class __________________ Ron Ortiz 2102 STK

07-21-2012, 10:00 PM	#9
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,113 Liked 900 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing Great guy! I had a great time running him in the first round of stock at last year's Supernationals. We were pitted near each other became friendly as well. He signed the time slip from our run too! __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

07-21-2012, 10:53 PM	#10
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Garlits and Stock Class Racing X6 I think over the years people may have confused Mr. Garlits intensity with aloofness. He was always focused on whatever job was at hand, and tuning and driving a TF car is serious business. I'm glad to see that he has found some enjoyment in racing in Stock Class, because I never expected to be able to race against him in a fueler. Lew __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA