2026 Mopars with Big Daddy

The 39th Annual Mopars with Big Daddy will be held November 7th & 8th. This year we will again be raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Proceeds from the raffle and auction will go to helping children fighting cancer. St. Jude Children’s Hospital treats children with cancer and provides assistance to families to be with their child during treatment at NO CHARGE. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post will again in 2026 be parking spectators; part of the money from parking will be donated to the Explorer Post. If you are a company or individual who would like to donate item/s for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital fundraiser please contact the museum; information below.
The 2026 Mopars with Big Daddy will feature events with Don. Friday November 6th Phillips Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Ocala presents the Friday Night Dinner and Q&A with Don. The dinner will begin at 6:30 PM at the pavilion located outside the Antique Building. The Q&A will be held at 8:00 PM inside the main museum building.
On Saturday, November 1st, after the car show Don will give a tour inside the museum of the cars that have a story behind them. The tour will begin at 5:00 pm and will be limited to 25 people. The cost is $75.00 a person. Due to the limited spaces make sure you register for the tour.
2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing to mark this anniversary we are pleased to announce that the First Lady of Drag Racing Shirley Muldowney will be participating in the celebration and will be present during the Mopars with Big Daddy. She will be available for autographs, photos, and have exclusive Shirley Muldowney items for sale. Shirley also will be participating in the Q&A with Don on Friday night.
Pricing for the Mopars with Big Daddy are as follows:
Car Show Registration: Pre-Registration $40.00, Day of Event $45.00
20’ X20’ Vendor Space: Pre-Registration $55.00, Day of Event $65.00
Car Coral Space: Pre-Registration $45.00, Day of Event $50.00
Dry Camp RV Spot: $25.00
Friday Night Dinner $45.00
Saturday Night Tour $75.00
Spectator Parking $5.00
Spectator Show Entrance $0.00
** Last day to pre-register November 4, 2026 **
** Last day to register for Friday Night Dinner October 30,2026**
You can pre-register for the show by going to the Gift Shop page, on the left side click on the Mopar Show box, then select the pre-registration item, add the item to your cart and then begin the check out.
Go to www.garlits.com Events Page to download a registration form. Send registration form and checks to Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and mail to Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing 13700 SW 16th Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34473.

Here is the daily schedule for the 2026 Mopars with Big Daddy. These schedules are subject to change and to updates.

Friday November 6th
8:00 AM Gates open to Vendors for Set Up
5:00-6:30 PM Museum open to individuals participating in the Dinner & Q&A
6:30 PM Dinner starts under the Pavilion
8:00 PM Q&A with Don Garlits & Shirley Muldowney begins in the Museum.
Saturday November 7th
8:00 AM Gates Open
2:30 PM Fundraiser Raffle/Auction for St. Jude Fundraiser
3:30 PM Participant Judging Trophies Awarded.
5:00 PM Saturday Night Tour with Don
Sunday November 8th
8:00 AM Gates Open
2:30 PM Fundraiser Raffle/Auction for St. Jude Fundraiser
3:00 PM Judged Show Trophies Awarded.

During the show on Saturday & Sunday the museum grounds will be for Vendors, Car Show Participants, and Spectators walking around. All other traffic will enter from the Spectator Parking area located on the farm to the south of the museum at 14050 SW 16th Avenue. Those needing Handicap Parking will be directed where to go to access Handicap Spaces on the museum grounds while spaces are available.
We would like to thank the following companies and individuals who have donated items to the St. Jude Fundraiser.
Summit Racing Equipment
John Force Racing
JW & Kim McNeal
Desktop Muscle Cars
We are pleased to announce that Magrich Photography will be at the show taking photographs of the cars that participate in the show. Magrich Photography
The Sleep Inn next door to the museum has a block of rooms for the show. Reservations must be made by October 7, 2026 to receive the show rate. You can call the Sleep Inn directly at 352-347-8383 or visit this link to make your reservation.
We also have a block of rooms reserved at the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Ocala located at 4100 SW 40th Street, Ocala FL. 34474 352-500-0501. If you call the hotel please select prompt for Front Desk. Give Mopars Big Daddy 2026 to get the blocked room and room rate. The last day to make your reservation under this bock is October 7, 2026.
Links to the blocked rooms are on the event page at www.garlits.com

For more information please call:
Vendor Questions call Shari at 352-446-3562
Show Information call Jim at 813-493-2970

Businesses or individuals who would like to donate to the fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital please contact Chuck at 352-245-8661 or [email protected].