Snake Timeline

1962 – Snake’s 1st Professional Victory

1962 – Snake’s 1st Professional Victory

At the age of 20, Snake scores his first professional victory at the prestigious “Smokers March Meet” in Bakersfield, CA.

1965 – First to win both the Winternationals and U.S. Nationals in the same season

1965 – First to win both the Winternationals and U.S. Nationals in the same season

Behind the wheel of Roland Leong’s “Hawaiian Dragster,” Snake becomes the first NHRA driver to win both the Winternationals and the U.S. Nationals in the same season.

1969 – Snake’s Second Victory at the U.S. Nationals

1969 – Snake’s Second Victory at the U.S. Nationals

Snake wins for the second time at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

1970 – Snake Repeats as U.S. Nationals Champ

1970 – Snake Repeats as U.S. Nationals Champ

Snake becomes only the second driver in history to win the U.S. Nationals two years in a row.

1973 – Snake wins 1st U.S. Nationals in Funny Car

1973 – Snake wins 1st U.S. Nationals in Funny Car

Snake moves from Top Fuel to his Carefree Gum ‘Cuda Funny Car for NHRA competition this season and wins the U.S. Nationals — his fourth win at Indy and first in Funny Car.

1974 – Snake’s multiple wins with Army ‘Cuda

1974 – Snake’s multiple wins with Army ‘Cuda

Snake wins in the Army ‘Cuda at both the Gator nationals and U.S. Nationals — his fifth win at Indy.

1975 – Snake First to Break the 6.0-second Mark

1975 – Snake First to Break the 6.0-second Mark

Snake wins 6 of 8 NHRA races, is first to break the 6.0-second mark, and wins his first NHRA Funny Car Championship in the Army Monza.

1976 – Snake’s Continued Success

1976 – Snake’s Continued Success

Snake wins 7 of 8 NHRA races and his second NHRA Funny Car Championship

1977 – Snake wins the U.S. Nationals for the Sixth Time

1977 – Snake wins the U.S. Nationals for the Sixth Time

Snake wins the U.S. Nationals for the sixth time and wins his third consecutive NHRA Funny Car Championship.

1978 – Snake Wins His 4th Consecutive NHRA Funny Car Championship

1978 – Snake Wins His 4th Consecutive NHRA Funny Car Championship

Snake wins his 27th career race and wins his fourth consecutive NHRA Funny Car Championship.

1980 – Snake set NHRA Funny Car World Record

1980 – Snake set NHRA Funny Car World Record

Snake sets NHRA Funny Car world record in his Army Omni with 5.93 elapsed time at Gatornationals.

1981 – Snake Drives the Pepsi Challenger to NHRA Victories

1981 – Snake Drives the Pepsi Challenger to NHRA Victories

Snake drives the Pepsi Challenger to two more NHRA national event wins.

1982 – Snake re-sets the ET World Record at 5.63 seconds!

1982 – Snake re-sets the ET World Record at 5.63 seconds!

In the Pepsi Challenger Trans Am, Snake resets the ET word record at 5.63 seconds at Indy and becomes first driver to break the 250 mph mark at Baton Rouge, LA.

1984 & 1985 – Snake Completes in the Pepsi-Wendy’s Pontiacs

1984 & 1985 – Snake Completes in the Pepsi-Wendy’s Pontiacs

Snake Completes in the Pepsi-Wendy’s Pontiacs.

1987 – Snake signs with Skoal Bandit Racing and wins the Gatornationals title.

1987 – Snake signs with Skoal Bandit Racing and wins the Gatornationals title.

Snake signs with Skoal Bandit Racing and drives his Trans Am to the Gatornationals title.

1988 – Snake again sets Funny Car world record at 5.305

1988 – Snake again sets Funny Car world record at 5.305

Snake again sets Funny Car world record at 5.305 seconds in Seattle, WA.

1989 – Snake sweeps the bud Shootout and the U.S. Nationals

1989 – Snake sweeps the bud Shootout and the U.S. Nationals

Snake sweeps the bud Shootout and the U.S. Nationals at Indy – his seventh win at Indy!

1990 – Snake ends Funny Car career and switches back to Top Fuel

1990 – Snake ends Funny Car career and switches back to Top Fuel

Snake ends Funny Car career and switches back to Top Fuel in the Skoal Bandit Dragster

1991 – Snake wins three more NHRA races

1991 – Snake wins three more NHRA races

Snake wins three more NHRA races having reached seven final rounds.

1994 – Snake’s Final Strike retirement season

1994 – Snake’s Final Strike retirement season

Snake’s Final Strike retirement season.  Finishes second in the NHRA points championship.

1995 – Snake names Larry Dixon as his successor in the Miller Genuine Draft Dragster

1995 – Snake names Larry Dixon as his successor in the Miller Genuine Draft Dragster

Snake names Larry Dixon as his successor in the Miller Genuine Draft Dragster.  Dixon wins U.S. Nationals, Bud Shootout and NHRA Rookie of the Year.

1996 – Don Prudhomme Racing office/shop moves to Vista, CA

1996 – Don Prudhomme Racing office/shop moves to Vista, CA

Don Prudhomme Racing office/shop moves from Northridge, CA to Vista, CA.

1997 – Snake signs Ron Capps to drive his Copenhagen Funny Car to NHRA Rookie of the Year

1997 – Snake signs Ron Capps to drive his Copenhagen Funny Car to NHRA Rookie of the Year

Snake signs Ron Capps to drive his Copenhagen Funny Car.  Capps wins two races and NHRA Rookie of the Year

1998 – Capps wins five races, U.S. Smokeless Showdown at Indy. Dixon wins the Winternationals!

1998 – Capps wins five races, U.S. Smokeless Showdown at Indy.  Dixon wins the Winternationals!

Capps wins five races, U.S. Smokeless Showdown at Indy, and finishes second in Championship points.  Dixon wins the Winternationals, joining his father, Larry Sr. as Top Fuel winners at Pomona.

1999 – Dixon becomes first to break 4.50-second mark. Capps wins second Showdown at Indy.

1999 – Dixon becomes first to break 4.50-second mark.  Capps wins second Showdown at Indy.

Dixon becomes first to break 4.50-second mark with 4.486 E.T. at Houston. Capps wins second Showdown at Indy.

2000 – Snake inducted in to International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Capps finishes second in NHRA Funny Car Championship.

2000 – Snake inducted in to International Motorsports Hall of Fame.  Capps finishes second in NHRA Funny Car Championship.

Snake inducted in to International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, AL.  Capps wins at Memphis, reaches 7 finals and finishes second in NHRA Funny Car Championship.

2001 – Snake builds first NHRA race shop in Brownsburg, IN. Adds Skoal Funny Car with driver Tommy Johnson Jr. Dixin wins his second career victory at the U.S. Nationals.

2001 – Snake builds first NHRA race shop in Brownsburg, IN.  Adds Skoal Funny Car with driver Tommy Johnson Jr.  Dixin wins his second career victory at the U.S. Nationals.

Snake becomes first NHRA team to build race shop in Brownsburg, IN.  Adds second Skoal Funny Car with driver Tommy Johnson Jr.  Dixin wins 6 races including a sweet at Indy for his second career victory at the U.S. Nationals, as well as the Bud Shootout.

2002 – 40th Anniversary season for Don Prudhomme Racing – championships keep coming!

2002 – 40th Anniversary season for Don Prudhomme Racing – championships keep coming!

40th Anniversary season for Don Prudhomme Racing.  Dixon reaches 14 finals and wins 9 races to win his first NHRA Top Fuel Championship – the 5th Championship overall for Snake.  Capps wins 3rd straight Showdown at Indy.

2003 – Dixon wins his second straight NHRA Top Fuel Championship

2003 – Dixon wins his second straight NHRA Top Fuel Championship

Dixon reaches 13 finals and wins 8 times to win his second straight NHRA Top Fuel Championship – the 6th overall for Snake.

2005 – Dixon wins the U.S. Nationals for the 3rd time. TJ wins at Pomona.

2005 – Dixon wins the U.S. Nationals for the 3rd time.  TJ wins at Pomona.

Snake competes the Skoal Funny Car and Miller Lite Dragster.  Dixon wins the U.S. Nationals for the third time and 5th straight year on Father’s Day.  TJ wins at Pomona and finished 6th in points.

2007 – Dixon wins at Englishtown with teammate TJ – giving Snake his fourth “double up”

2007 – Dixon wins at Englishtown with teammate TJ – giving Snake his fourth “double up”

Dixon competes in SkyTel dragster, replacing sponsor Miller Lite for the first time since 1995.  Dixon wins 3 times including at Englishtown with teammate TJ – giving Snake his fourth “double up”

2008 – Snake competes Dixon in the U.S. Smokeless Racing dragster

2008 – Snake competes Dixon in the U.S. Smokeless Racing dragster

Snake competes one car this season,  Dixon in the U.S. Smokeless Racing dragster

2009 – Spencer Massey earns 2 wins and named NHRA Rookie of the Year

2009 – Spencer Massey earns 2 wins and named NHRA Rookie of the Year

Spencer Massey earns 2 wins in 5 finals and named NHRA Rookie of the Year

2010 – Don Prudhomme retires as a team owner with a combined 6 NHRA World Championships

2010 – Don Prudhomme retires as a team owner with a combined 6 NHRA World Championships

Don Prudhomme retires as a team owner with a combined 6 NHRA World Championships and 112 race victories.