Snake & Mongoo$e DVD

Until now, few people outside of the racing community knew the true and full story of the Snake and the Mongoo$e. That is about to change with the long overdue release of the independent film, "Snake and Mongoo$e," from British director Wayne Holloway and production partners Entertainment Universe, Rhino Films, and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The film documents the full texture of the real-life relationship in all its colorful permutations—the rivalry, the races, the fights, the victories, their partnership and business success, and their tender support for each.

They managed to put drag racing on the map for the first time, and changed motor sports forever, starting with the 1970 sponsorship agreement with Mattel's Hot Wheels toys that soon gave birth to the corporate sponsorship and licensing model that continues to dominate motor sports, and many other sports, to this day. But while that was going on, the pain of a failed marriage, the tragic illness of a child, and the loneliness of the road weighed heavily on both men and their families. "Snake & Mongoo$e" probes these many layers of their enduring relationship on a big-stage platform for the first time.

The film also features archival National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) footage and consulting and producing expertise from the real-life Prudhomme and McEwen. It's based on the journalistic work of writer Alan Paradise, who documented the rivalry for years before taking on screenwriting chores.

The movie stunningly chronicles a vintage slice of American culture as it came to life, while simultaneously documenting in compelling and dramatic terms one of the deepest and longest-lasting relationships in the history of sports. At its core, "Snake & Mongoo$e" is a true and passionate story about the meaning of enduring friendship.