SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY Reveals Wild Stories From Her Legendary Rivalry With Garlits

November 14, 2025

• SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY recounts a chaotic 1981 Seattle race where her son and crew chief were arrested mid-competition after defending her from hostile fans, leaving her to compete with backwards-installed discs and volunteer help – yet she still managed to win the final round.
• The rivalry with Don Garlits included serious confrontations over lane choice violations, with MULDOWNEY threatening violence when Garlits’ crew chief Herb Parks tried to intimidate her team, demonstrating the intensity of competing as a woman in drag racing’s most aggressive era.
• Despite the heated battles and genuine threats that characterized their competition, MULDOWNEY and Garlits developed mutual respect that evolved into lasting friendship, proving that even motorsport’s most volatile rivalries can mature beyond the track drama.

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