Don Prudhomme says "I Quit" vs. Jim Nicoll in 1970

One of the most dramatic moments of the U.S. Nationals came in 1970 when Jim Nicoll's clutch gave out causing his car to split in half and spin out of control in front of Don Prudhomme who was racing in the opposite lane. Here's the moment that Don got out of the car and wanted to quit drag racing forever.
We will look back at this memorable moment and more at this year's 60th Anniversary of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. For ticket information click here: bit.ly/Indy14Tix

[@erv_fedora]

Don Prudhomme is cool as fudge. I worked on his Saltillo pavers in his home. He bought us lunch and sat and ate with us till we finished the job. We had no clue who he was. The next job we went to the home owner was an avid drag racer fan. The crew and I were joking around and we were re telling a joke that Dom had told us. The home owner was flabbergasted that we sat and conversed with his hero lol I had no clue how famous Don was, To me he was a super down to earth person. Super chill and friendly. He even tipped us individually after we finished his floor.

[@jayrowe6473]

The evolution of drag racing is nothing short of incredible!

[@feulman65]

Snake is so intense at the track, I've met his a few times briefly, to see him show that emotion gets me every time.

[@tomballesteros4673]

I’ll never forget seeing that run as a kid on the Wide World of sports !wow!

[@TempleSpeedWay]

All my days racing outlaw promods, this video always ruminates in the back of my head...

[@furyiiiplate]

Him, Mongoose and Big Daddy were GODS to us kids back then... Hot Wheel came out and we went Bonkers....

[@elliothagen9874]

Yes they were

[@craigcricket7932]

Plymouth Fury..I still have my "Snake" and "Mongoose" Top Fuel Dragster Model Kits from the 70's.

[@justachipn3039]

Yup... I meet and talked to them many times as a kid at Fremont Drags Ca

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

Especially top trumps geez

[@johnbeaudry9478]

OH boy. You better know it... The Kings of Drag

[@redline2115]

“..and the agony of defeat..” Wide World of Sports had that crash forever in the previews. Then I got to see Don at Seattle International Raceway. Great times.

[@tedhunter6983]

I remember watching this on t.v. and seeing how much Don was worried for Jim. They practically had to remind him he won the race. The best thing to happen out of the whole thing was Jim was okay and alive and the second best thing to happen out of the whole thing was Big Daddy perfecting the rear engine design and making the safety of the racers a whole lot better.

[@gep2771]

For sure, sitting behind a bomb with no protection, crazy times.

[@JohnnyT002]

Yes I also remember watching this on T.V. It came on abc's Wide World of Sports.

[@dsmadad5748]

One year earlier in Qualifying John Mulligan died in a horrific clutch explosion that cut the car in two and sent him in the cockpit bounding along in the grass turning over and over at least a dozen times, shown on Wide World of Sports. Once. To this day the footage has not been released on KZbin or anywhere else that I'm aware of. Nicoll was a very fortunate man...I believe that the chute coming out saved his life by causing what was left of the car to drag slowly to a stop instead of rolling over and over with him in it...

[@craigcricket7932]

I still have my Mongoose and Snake Rail Dragster Model cars from the early 70's.

[@jennifursun3303]

remember this too. felt soo sorry for Don. glad Jim got out ok

[@MarlonDeanMcQueen]

He didn’t say, “I quit.” He said, “I think I’m quitting.”

[@Ruckweiler73]

Saw this on Wide World when it happened and Prudhomme was quite shaken. Later, I saw Nicoll at Aquasco, Maryland in a funny and he had Jim "Superman"Nicoll painted on, if memory serves, a Vega bodied car.

[@garyjackson3531]

Yup. This is how he got the name!

[@RobbinsJoe]

Man, those old diggers were bombs on wheels.

[@meanmrmustang]

I can remember seeing that on wide world of sports, seeing this reminds me of the look of desperation on Don's face. Haunting

[@JohnW1711stock]

I remember watching this. Everyone thought he was dead.

[@Inthefoxhole]

One of my first memories of drag racing, I was ten years old and still remember seeing that interview with the Snake. I think that's when my interest started towards drag racing. I used to tell my friends about seeing that crash, and how the dragster exploded in half.. I think it aired on the NBC network.

[@elliothagen9874]

Spud & Ginger abc wide world of sports

[@justjames9775]

Yeah, the rear engined cars are much safer, but I really like the look of those old front engined cars.

[@edwardeverson9063]

I was 5 years old !

[@nickcrim6735]

Love how concerned he was for em. Thats a true champion. Glad he came out of that unscathed, especially in the times they were in when the safety and technology were hardly even as advanced as they are now.

[@elliothagen9874]

Remember this. Seen it on Wide World of sports. When any from of racing was on that show I would watch it.

[@zekestonekiller7456]

A 4+ minute goddamn commercial for Patriots generators before I can watch the video I wanted to see? Screw you, KZbin!

[@josephdeffendoll3056]

Still our heros.

[@overload1956]

Now you see why Big Daddy built the rear engine sleds

[@HammerHeadGarage]

Tired of seeing his friends burned up and killed.

[@friguy4444]

I would think that in drag racing the engine being being further over the rear wheels would just be an advantage in general. But I'm no racer. I'd think the weight would help with traction.

[@lorditsprobingtime6668]

@@friguy4444 It's a balancing act. Too much weight forward and yes, you lose too much traction. Having the weight, or rather the centre of mass too far back and it'll just keep wanting to wheel stand. They have to try and get as close to that fine line where they get the best traction without just throwing the front in the air and forcing them to ease off the power.

[@lskiller1903]

The Swamp Fox debuted the rear engine dragster and won the very first race with it in 1971, the very next year after this crash.

[@garyjackson3531]

Garlits had a catastrophic explosion earlier, in California at Lions Drag Strip, long before Indy. Don was screwing around with an experimental transmission that wasn't ready for prime time. The explosion severed Don's foot. So while in the hospital he started drawing up blueprints for a rear engined car. The photo of the explosion is breathtaking.

[@steverobbins240]

And so Big Daddy forever changed Top Fuel the following year with his rear engine dragster!

[@fmradio42]

I remember seeing that live on a TV.

[@CrazyBear65]

"...I couldn't fuckin believe it..." The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.

[@BruceEldridge]

What a story!!

[@jennifursun3303]

am reading Dons book he talks about this spring valley was in my neck of the woods

[@elliothagen9874]

I knew about this before it was on TV

[@MrHondaguy1]

All I can say is thank God Jim Nicoll didn't get seriously hurt and thank God for Big Daddy Don Garlits inventing the rear engine dragster and doing away with those death trap slingshot dragsters.

[@johncarl5505]

MrHondaguy1 The Smokin White Owl is the first rear engined dragster, not the Swamp Rat.

[@craigcricket7932]

Garlitts Museum in Florida is a good one.

[@garyjackson3531]

​@@johncarl5505Garlits is the first to build a successful rear engine car. Most were ill handling and uncompetitive. Garlits was going down the same path. The car was undrivable in testing. Then Big slowed the steering down. Saved the project and saved lives.

[@2ifbysea]

Oh the good old days of the Evel Kenevil era!

[@dump3deg6]

And then Garlits made a rear engine machine and helped with all the issues those guys were having.

[@Brucev7]

"Whoa Nellie!"

[@redriverraider]

1:04 on is gold! THX!

[@jeffreybrianring6392]

I remember watching this horrific accident on tv.

[@olsk0004]

Don was shaken. Damn!😮

[@icewaterslim7260]

I loved the aesthetic slingshots but they killed a lot of drivers. Got to see Prudhomme in Amarillo Texas once. Maybe this rail but it was Blue/Silver metallic like the earlier "Hawaiian" but I think a bit longer like this one.

[@johnvandeventer8668]

the snake was very worried

[@jeffmech600]

those cars were so dangerous

[@jepolch]

And yet, interest in front engine dragsters persists despite the danger.

[@fullstrutn]

I always thought Don drove nothing but funny cars!

[@garyjackson3531]

He started driving for Keith Black in the early 60's. He's a car painter by trade. If you ever watch the movie "Bikini Beech" that was filmed in 1964 with Pomona standing in for Bikini Drag Strip, you'll see the yellow Greer, Black, and Prudhomme car. Starting in the 70's Funny Cars were more popular. There were only a handful of NHRA and AHRA national events, so everyone made a living by match racing. Funny Cars were the hot new thing, so that's where a lot of drivers went. Don finished his career back in Top Fuel as a driver. Of course he stayed in the sport as an owner for another decade or so.

[@davidszakacs6888]

The Old Days.....Top Fuelers doing the quarter mile in 6 seconds! Today’s fuelers cover 1,000 feet in a bit more than 3 seconds and we see door slammers doing the quarter in 6.5!

[@lindsaynicoll5272]

He’s my grandpa

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

2:59 Roland "The Hawaiian" Leong.

[@kellienicolebrooksschettin6598]

Yeah even with the heart of a champion,big daddy was saying 20 friends lives were lost in one year how would u be feeling.....or thinking.

[@gearheadred]

Somebody forgot to latch the rear door of the ambulance that was taking Jim to the hospital after this crash, and he rolled right out of the back of it.

[@22sojourner]

I watched that same thing happen at Bridgeport Speedway N.J. when the gurney fell out the back, I was horrified ... !!!

[@georgeketchmark3087]

That’s when you know that you’re having a really bad unlucky day

[@nitromethane2228]

Jim Nicoll would have beat Don Prudhomme if his clutch didnt blow up he was out on him

[@nikolaiownz]

Going a to b is dragracing. If yiu blow up your are not winning.

[@steveelliott4548]

I remember this, ok im old!

[@marcosstables]

😂

[@williamturner8422]

Front engine dragsters are beautiful in my opinion and I prefer watching the old 2500 horsepower cars more than the new 10,000 plus horsepower cars.

[@12th.jahlil]

Hi

[@kevintucker3354]

What does prudhomme think now that there are street cars running 6.5 second 1/4 mile at 220 mph. And then driving 200 miles pulling a trailer and running in the 6s again.

[@jjs777fzr]

What does Prudhomme think? Maybe he’d say before anyone did anything, him, mongoose and dan did everything.

[@jayjay-bz3rr]

Real racing

[@jimestus7506]

The commentator sounds like the venerable Keith Jackson.

[@Secretarian]

True that.

[@Brucev7]

"Whoa Nellie!"

[@garyjackson3531]

It was.

[@426hemi49]

Where would drag racing be today if Don did quit?

[@christopherdobberstein4992]

Snake looks sooo mad!!!

[@nerktwins7023]

Jungle Jim used to say , " You take your life in your hands when you climb into a fuel car."

[@danbeau9404]

And that's how Jungle ended, just the way he lived.

[@SorryWereOpen247]

@@danbeau9404 ....Jungle died in a traffic accident, Not in his flopper !

[@garyjackson3531]

​@@SorryWereOpen247It's been long held that Jim committed suicide.

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

would rattle anybody............

[@christopherdobberstein4992]

Snake quit so early in the season?

[@johnvandeventer8668]

no

[@garyjackson3531]

​@@johnvandeventer8668There were only a handful of national events in 1970. Indy was on Labor Day. (Still is) The two major sanctioning bodies, NHRA and AHRA had less than half as many races combined as the NHRA alone has today.

[@Nietha-jh6wh]

funny faces

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

I hope the Hemi is ok.

[@david54106]

Glad he was ok as thats scary shit... and atleast his engine would of been ok as it was still upright sliding down the track... love those feds though...

[@garymattischannel6207]

It's hard to quit Drag Racing when you were practically born into it but I understand why he said it because today corruption is the problem with 1/8 Mile and Buybacks. The 1/4 Mile Racers who want a honest race without bribery Called Buybacks have very little to choose from in most towns. Street night is about the only honest race left once a month. And the NHRA, Sponsors and government are not doing anything to stop the bribery Called Buybacks. Corruption is the truth about Drag Racing in The USA today. When the word Eliminated doesn't mean Eliminated in the first round because of Bribery Buybacks You should know that something is wrong with what is going on ! , There was a time in The USA when Men were Men and they actually put it on the trailer and became spectators after losing the first round. Bribery Buybacks would have insulted their Integrity ! America is still looking for a Few good Men and they are not Marines ! They are Honest Drag Racers who despise bribery At The Drag Strips !. I'm ashamed At The Drag Racing community and NHRA Sponsors who go along with Bribery Buybacks. Bribery Buybacks Are like Nazi Germany's Fashism ! , Exactly like Nazi Germany's Fashism because The honest people are silenced And the truth of First Round Eliminated doesn't apply anymore to the corrupt people who lack morality and integrity and therefore they have corrupted the entire Sport of Drag Racing. I'd rather let it rot on the trailer then give in to NHRA Sponsors and their Bribery Buybacks and corruption ! . Back to the streets is about the only situation left for people not willing to give in to NHRA's Corruption and Corrupt Sponsors and their Bribery Buybacks ! . Originally 1/4 Mile Drag Racing was organized to get Drag Racing off of the streets and into a safer place but it seems like NHRA has forgotten Wally's Original Ideas ! . The love of money is the root of All kinds of Evils and that includes Bribery Buybacks ! . NHRA is the author of Sin with Bribery Buybacks and and that Sin causes others to Sin By Bribery Buybacks and By Causing Street Racing also to avoid Buybacks and Bribery. NHRA and it's Sponsors have become an immoral tool of the devil. Remember what is in The Lord's Prayer before you Buyback ! Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil ! , The Loser's buy a win and come back in ! , Buybacks Are Bribery clear and simple Bribery !

[@carlsmith4767]

Never like seeing a crash. But Don was a real a hole in the pits. He would sign a girl's t-shirt if she had big ones. but he would tell us kids to get lost. He never signed my stuff in the seven time at Freemont Drag strip, So I took The Mongoose over him.