First look! Don "The Snake" Prudhomme back in a Funny Car at the 2023 NHRA U.S. Nationals!

[@CarsandCats]

Gave me goose bumps! Haven't seen that paintjob since I was a kid. Man, you just know all the memories that rushed through Snake's mind when that car fired off. Just like that he was a young man again. Thank you Ron Capps for doing this!

[@davez3838]

Awesome what great memories of Snake & Mongoose!! Thanks for the look.

[@jamesborden4805]

What kind of bumps??? This is Don not Tom!!!

[@mikebaker9574]

Looks great! The Snake does too !!

[@TheGaryCarey]

Thank you, WFO , Joe

[@vincereynolds6092]

I'm almost 60 years old, and I feel like a kid again. Was 6 when I got the Snake & Mongoo$e Hot Wheels Drag Set. Love this tribute. Love seeing Snake behind the wheel! Respect to Ron Capps for making this happen. He's a legend in his own right, and still remains humble enough to honor Don Prudhomme. Great to see how much Capps appreciates what Prudhomme did to help ignite his career. 😊

[@buddhavb3616]

Same here. Great sight to see.

[@richardgentry6996]

I'm 61 and the same That Snake and Mongoose set got me into Funny cars Dragsters and Pro Stock. 👍😊

[@jimbeam2705]

When I was a kid , I'd have given anything for that set.

[@vincereynolds6092]

@@jimbeam2705 Yeah...it was pretty cool! 😊

[@edwardbaker192]

I don’t remember how old I was but I had the same snake and mongoose hot wheel set in the early 70s …. Wish I was smart enough to keep it in good condition and have it today. I’m 57 years old.

[@tbrooks21]

That’s good stuff right there!!

[@slotbunny]

Yeahh! Looking good! 🎉🎉

[@lhkaibabfishhike6762]

Awesome!! My Snake & Mongoose die cast cars are on display in the workshop every day. Great memories.

[@d.gibbons2979]

Fantastic. The snake tribute was the highlight of the entire US Nationals. Snake and Capps are both great ambassadors for the sport of drag racing. Seeing Prudhomme get in the car for warm up was inspiring

[@peterlanciers7841]

Effin’ AWESOME, I got teary eyed and I’m 1800 miles from the fumes!!!

[@dmeemd7787]

Same!!

[@roberthevern6169]

Love it!

[@TheyCallMeD1]

Because Capps did this "special tribute" to The Snake, I automatically want him to win The Big Go this weekend. 🙂

[@Florhampark12]

Thank you Ron for never for getting where you came from!! Best of luck you and your crew this weekend.....stay safe!!!

[@musicalhelp]

Been a fan of Prudhomme since the 60s. Old drag racers never die; they just burn out. :D

[@michaelw6483]

Awesome to see.

[@billyandmyboyzayn9128]

My grandmother got me a matel hot wheels club membership when I was 6 yrs old 1970 became a fan of snake and goose instantly, thanks Ron 😊

[@kurtbyars766]

VERY NICE shot of Snake warming up Ron Capps FC ! Great to see you Don Prudhomme !!!! You're bringing me way back to SOOOO many great memories !!!!

[@larryphillips7349]

Wish I still had my Snake Army hot wheel but the Mongoose English Leather Corvette was one of my fav hot wheels

[@skxj]

Haha, yep I still have the Army Plymouth and the mongoose Vette Few scratches but that's how she goes

[@precbsfender]

Seeing that Hot Wheels wrap takes me right back to the early 1970s.

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

The greatest time ever.

[@stephencarter1442]

Snake Car and the Wonder Bread car of Don Schumacher were my Favorites Growing up I still have My Hot Rod Magazine WITH THE WONDER BREAD CAR, circa 1973, Love the Paintwork from that era. So Proud of Capps for going Old School, He knows His Roots! Mad respect.

[@larryphillips7349]

I remember Dons Wonder Bread car blowing the body off at about 200 ft out at OCIR about 74 75. I was only 6 or 7. I remember because dad went to get us a pepsi and missed it.

[@jimcurt99]

LOVED the Snake and Mongoose- lets not forget Jungle Jim (and Jungle Pam- being a teenage boy at the time she made an impression)

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

Ohhh man, brings me back OCIR days,

[@chadperley7736]

A thing of beauty. Love it. Awesome. Thanks for the video. 👍🏻

[@kevinwilliamlowe3050]

That’s awesome!!

[@arghoknot]

An amazing tribute to the Snake. Well done team Napa! It would be nice to be able to purchase one of those pit crew shirts. I'm hoping that other tribute cars will make their appearances as well.👍

[@KimFrechette-mf1xr]

What a nice tribute to the one & only Don The Snake Prudhomme

[@justchillin6599]

KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@waynejohnson1121]

That was so cool wish I could have been there "long live the SNAKE "

[@sekabkilo22rangedog8]

64 years young.... reminds me of Irwindale and Sacramento Raceway....got a little tear!!

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

Me, OCIR,

[@sekabkilo22rangedog8]

Just an edit; Ron winning the race just made that oh so sweet... just fantastic! Napa s ored point with me for going along with this!!

[@HighGearAutomotive]

Capps getting a face full while standing next to Snake in the seat 😅

[@johnpinkerton8596]

There was a summer at OCIR that I never saw the Snake lose a round! Great memories

[@ruffnut1000]

That is beyond cool

[@michaelguziak4680]

Seen >> Don The Snake 50. ++ Times in My Life Time. At LIONS, OCIR, IRWINDALE, BAKERSFIELD, SEATTLE Internatonall Raceway etc...and other TRACKS ON THE West Coast... >.> The Ccolest Guy EVER!!!

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

NHRA, should do a old school wrapping top fuel and funny car, Rain for rent of James Warren, Connie Coletta Jim Dunn, the Hawaiian car Big Daddy Shirley Muldowney remember it's just wrapping it's not paint it would be awesome

[@lance4217]

Snake Had the Nitro Face Get’n Outta That Thing🏁🏁🏁

[@saveamerica423]

I really, really enjoyed this. Shout out to NAPA for giving up their primary paint scheme for not only the biggest race of the year but the one race they would get the most TV advertising time due to the increased FOX coverage. I love when we do things like this to honor our heroes and traditions....especially while they are still alive. Snake being there and on the starting line was an instant trip back to the 1980's for me. And I know Capps felt the weight of the world on his shoulders with that car scheme and Snake flying from CA to IND just to watch it.

[@jimbeam2705]

I'll take the original anyday of the week.

[@michaelmiller9483]

Standing in front of the burger stand in the pits at Irwindale, the guy asked me to hand a burger to this guy, it was the Snake, to this day he looked like a teenager ( I think a top fuel show, it was early '68)

[@danmyers9372]

I sat right next to Snake and right behind Roland Leong and Mike Dunn at a Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield about a dozen years ago. Memorable experience!

[@randyhill5750]

I seen Don in Terre Haute Indiana years ago at the action track

[@jimcurt99]

This is SO AWESOME- hope Ron wins the Nationals!!! and I think Don needs a nap- you can tell being in the drivers seat again took a bit out of him (would KILL a normal human)

[@carlhanna8429]

Ron Capps is the best 👍👍

[@ricobobe]

can't wait for the diecast to come! 👊❤

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

I am 61 and I will buy all they have and give them to kids.

[@grahamestewart355]

What a legend .... Ron Capps Bigger Greater than anyone else in the Drag Racing Community. Yes because he has Put before any of his achievements. He has acknowledge the belief and trust of a car owner to Excell the both of them into tomorrow

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

IMO He should have done a throttle whack.

[@nrd515]

Definitely. If you go to the trouble of him doing it, the throttle should get at least one whack.

[@larryphillips7349]

Grew up at OCIR through the 70s. Dad and I never missed a Sat night. Miss that place soo much. I well remember taking the pepsi challenge and the mongoose cruzin the pits in his corvette. Man those were the days. Thanks dad.

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

I was there also, my dad was a volunteer of James Warren, great times,

[@TheyCallMeD1]

I'm currently in and grew up in S. California in the 70's & 80's too. Most drag racing fans outside of our area would not understand the HUGE loss but pleasant memories we have of OCIR. Like u, I was there numerous times too. Oh God, I miss that place, especially at night!! 👍

[@ronmerkle3696]

I have a photo of Don ,Tom Mcquin, and Dick Moroso at Moroso Motorsports park from back in the day.

[@robertfeeley9738]

Nitro, food of the Gods

[@deancoffey2531]

Are Diecasts going to be made of this car?

[@timfremstad3434]

If they would bring back all the old car's names... Blue Max, Black Magic, Chi -town Hustler, the Mongoose....those old cars had individuality and character that these corporate labeled cars today dont have

[@danielhemple8649]

Very cool but should have been on a Mopar at least it had a hemi

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

Hey NHRA, get a hint here, fans love this stuff, have one race during the circuit ,at US nationals or winter Nationals and have all cars ,top fuel, funny car, have old time wrapping,, ,have the, Ridge Route Rain for rent of James Warren, the mongoose, Shirley Muldowney, Connie Kalitta, jim Dunn, the Hawaiian car, ect, ect ect, and of course BIG DADDY, remember your past, or you have no future, come ON NHRA,

[@susank3864]

Still got the car

[@charliewhite1946]

why did u mute audio

[@georgedennison3338]

I asked the same thing the 1st time I experienced this in a vid. What I learned is the nitro engines, (even some non-nitro motors), are so loud they blow out the microphones on most cameras & all phones.

[@WFORadio]

Exactly.

[@gregorywelk3344]

Granted, I was taking a lot of acid back then, but I can’t remember Prudhomme driving a Toyota. Or any Toyota. And 1000’? How about what used to be Pro Stock? Now it’s Pro Camaro…😢

[@cll1639]

Doesn't matter. Besides, they didn't have a Barracuda handy. Prudhomme was never involved in Pro Stock (the new Factory X class will end Pro Camaro) and for safety reasons, now that funny cars travel nearly 100mph faster than when Prudhomme last drove one they've raced 1000 feet since 2007 which doesn't lessen the live experience one bit. This whole deal was to honor one of drag racing's legends - mission accomplished. And the car won the race.

[@jamesborden4805]

I didn't any NITRO! HW never had anything to do with a foreign make! CUDA,CUDA,CUDA!!!

[@davidjohnmiller4849]

Toyota ? No thanks

[@ScottCole-sb8fy]

Prudhomme is my all-time favorite FUNNY CAR Pilot !!! He did so much to bring professionalism to Nitro racing (w/Tom McEwen). I used to drive up to Prudhomme's race shop in Northridge, Ca. at the end of his race season and buy most of his used parts from that season. His FC's were the best. His crew was the best. He really knew how to do it. A salute to Don "the snake" Prudhomme !!

[@edwardbaker192]

Dan, the snake Prudhomme and Ron Capps are stand up guys I seen them on Saturday great competitors very fan friendly

[@Inthefoxhole]

Back, way back.I aways chose the Mongoose over the snake when playing with the hot wheels set.What was the coolest part was the cars pulling the chutes.I wish we still had that race track and cars.We were rough on toys.Parents thru them in the trash.

[@bubbasmith1410]

Ya let's go racing