he learned to drive a tractor at his father's knee. >> on a bicycle, red wagon, whatever he had, from as long as i can remember, he has wanted to go fast. >> you had to learn to work on automobiles. and then on the weekends, you raced them. >> at his mississippi farm, he has assembled a dream car collection. >> this is a '61 ford that i built and run on the bonneville salt flats. >> he buys the same cars he drag raced with in the '60s, customizes them, and sets records racing them at bonneville flats. >> it's the biggest satisfaction that a human being could have, to know that i'm number one at anything -- checkers, or dominoes or racing. >> september, 12th, 2014, high noon. poteet is about to make a high stakes run to test a new engine. and the crew's expectations are soaring. >> in my mind, i was thinking about a 370, actually, to be honest. >> i have a very calm and confident feeling every time they close the canopy. it's like you are in a different world. i mean, it's serenity.