Snake & Mongoose

Hello, everybody. I'm Dave McClelland,

and welcome to the 24th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals

at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

A lot of stories have developed at the U.S. Nationals

through four full days of qualifying.

This is one of the longest rivalries in drag-racing history...

three-time world champion and defending champ

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme of Granada Hills, California,

against his longtime friend and nemesis,

Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen of Fountain Valley, California.

Prudhomme got his nickname "The Snake"

because of his amazingly quick reflexes

on the starting line.

These two have a history going back two decades.

They even raced together in a partnership...

the Wildlife Racing team.

What better than when you have a snake and a mongoose

but to team up and tour the country?

Funny car eliminator, final race.

The classic Snake versus Mongoose battle once again.

The burnout's complete and approaching the starting line.

But the race is on the line

for the national championship in funny car.

Prudhomme in the far lane.

That has been the better lane in racing this afternoon.

In the near lane, Tom McEwen.

The concentration begins on that Christmas tree.

Both drivers intently looking at the electronic starting device.

- (MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO) Working late as usual?

As usual. You know me.

Are you thirsty? - Thanks.

You missed the English final today.

Doesn't matter.

I'm done with school.

That's it?

After all the hard work we've done, you're just going to quit?

What's the point, Lynn?

The only thing I can really read is cars.

Tommy Ivo asked me to go on the road with him.

Can you believe that?

I was going to tell you earlier.

Is he going to pay you, Don?

'Cause summer's a longtime not to earn any money.

Yeah, of course he's gonna pay me. I'll be working for him.

It's a job.

Wow. So just like that?

Lynn...

I'd be learning from one of the best drag racers there is.

What would you have me do?

Did you tell your dad yet?

I can't paint cars for the rest of my damn life.

I know.

So you told him, right?

Look, I'll just be gone for a couple of months, all right?

So don't go leaving me for some other Valley stud, huh?

- Oh, you're a Valley stud now? - (LAUGHS)

- Behind the wheel, I am. - (LAUGHS)

You smoked him pretty good.

You always that fast?

Oh, that was nothing. Wait till I win the big go.

What's that?

U.S. Nationals, biggest race of the year.

Hey, you want an autograph?

No, that's okay.

Really?

Well, can I have yours?

Sure.

Nice to meet you, Judy.

- I'm Tom McEwen. - Pleasure.

Hey, you got a number too?

Um...

yeah.

I heard you work the line over at Douglas.

Yep, that's true.

I'm very good with my hands.

I heard that too.

We should go for a drive sometime.

You win some more races, and I'll think about it.

And Prudhomme strikes again, ladies and gentlemen.

That'll be the 200th win

for the incredible Greer-Black-Prudhomme team.

Any more of these clowns get hurt out there,

our insurance is gonna go through the roof.

Stop your whining, honey.

Well, look who's here.

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.

Pretty good run there, huh?

The takings are down, Don.

Hard times, man.

I ain't running a charity here.

I'll tell you what.

I'm in a generous mood.

Here's 400 bucks.

Top eliminator gets 500 bucks, Mr. McWhorter.

I won.

The takes are down, son.

He ain't cheating you.

I'd take the 400 and be thankful.

Take it or leave it.

- Oh, hi, Daddy. - Hey, Lynn. Hey.

- Hey, guys. - How you doing, Judy?

- Hey, Eddie. - Hey, kiss me for luck, boys.

- And girl. - Yes.

- All right, wish me luck, guys. - Good luck.

- See you guys later. - Good to see you.

- Sit down for a minute. - Oh, my goodness.

Aw, Judy, your kids are so cute.

Where's baby?

He's at my mom's. Too loud at the track.

- Oh. - You and Don going to have one?

Racing comes first in our family.

- Maybe someday. - I got to go.

- Oh, you got to go. - Go.

In our house, it's a dead heat between the kids and the cars.

- (GASPS) Oh. - Just don't wait too long.

- Come on, Tommy. - All right.

- We'll see you. - Good luck.

Ready to lose, Donny?

Losing's your specialty.

You think so?

You sure you want to race, Tommy?

We all know Lions is my track.

All right, Torn.

Starter gives the okay to Prudhomme and McEwen.

McEwen beats Snake on the tree with a holeshot.

Torn McEwen beats Don "The Snake" Prudhomme

in a record-setting 6.64 ET

at a blistering 206 miles an hour.

Oh, this is so much fun!

It's bullshit, Tom, jumping the gun like that.

Bullshit.

Oh, my God. - That's for you, buddy.

- What do you think went wrong? - What do I think went wrong?

He's reading the damn starter again. What do you think went wrong?

Hi, Don. How's Lynn?

Well, to be honest, we can't really afford to lose in my household,

so she's probably pretty pissed, Ms. Greer.

We all have to lose sometime, Don.

Yeah, not me.

What can I do for you, Thomas?

I sure do love racing.

Had a hell of a run these last three years, haven't we?

What's with all this "had" shit? You hanging it up?

Fact is Keith and I aren't making any money, Don.

You in on this?

We're not winning most of our races?

You're not making more engines now than ever?

It's kind of the point...

more money making engines than racing them.

Now, look,

you've gone practically undefeated for the last two years,

and the most I can get out of a sponsor is $1,000.

Now, I love this sport, but we got to be practical.

How's this for practical?

I practically win every damn race I line up for.

What, you can't turn a profit on this car?

So why don't you sell it to me, Thomas?

You don't have the dough, Don.

Look, Don, you got a gift.

You know how to read an engine just by listening to it,

but it's not enough.

You need business sense.

You two don't think good old Don Prudhomme

has the business sense?

I wish you the best of luck.

- I bet you do. - Bye, Don.

What are we doing later?

- Tommy. - Yeah?

This was your best race by far, buddy.

Now all you got to do is get over there

and collect your money, Mongoose.

Mongoose? What the hell's a mongoose?

Well, you know, like in "The Jungle Book."

The mongoose gets the snake.

- (LAUGHS) - Oh, hell.

It's a giant rat that eats snakes.

Oh, yeah, a mongoose. Yeah, I knew that.

- Mongoose. I like it. - See?

Yeah. (LAUGHS)

- Okay. - Yeah.

Here, take this, Ed.

- I'm going to go get our money. - Attaboy, Mongoose.