Demon won't start

I need some help getting my 72 Demon started. I'm not a mechanic but I'm trying to learn. Car had been running recently, battery is strong and it turns over great but won't pop off. When I was starting it this last week, it seemed like it was only wanting to start once I turned the key back, like there was a short in the key switch.

I've tried starting it without doing anything with the gas pedal and then also giving it some gas but that just makes my garage smell like gas.