K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals
Englishtown, N.J.
(May 15-18)
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Larry Dixon Miller Lite Top Fueler |
Reports: Sunday Saturday Pre-race |
Englishtown, Sunday: Defending NHRA POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon posted a runner-up finish in Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite Dragster at the 34th Annual K&N SuperNationals in Englishtown New Jersey Sunday while remaining the NHRA Top Fuel points leader at 723.
Dixon began the day as the No.7 qualifier and took on No.10 qualifier Cory McClenathan in the opening round of eliminations. Although the Miller Lite dragster smoked the tires, Cory McClenathan fouled and Dixon continued to the second round with a lap time of 78.95 mph (11.726 e.t.).
For the second round Dixon and crew chief Dick LaHaie used ET and horsepower to win over Clay Millican's time of 4.537 seconds (316.01 mph). Dixon produced a time of 4.559 seconds and 327.74 mph, both his top ET and speed of the weekend. Semifinal action saw Dixon take on No.3 qualifier Jim Head. Head's pass of 268.60 mph (4.559ET) was no match for Dixon's performance of 316.38 mph, 4.559 ET.
The semifinal win moved Dixon into his fifth final round appearance of the 2003 season and 52nd of his career (28 wins & 23 losses).
This was the second time this season Dixon and Kalitta have met in the finals. Dixon defeated Kalitta earlier this year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But Kalitta's remarkable lap of 4.494 ET (328.54 mph) beat out Dixon's time of 4.554 ET at 326.40 mph.
"Our car slowed down a little bit, and there's didn't," said Dixon. It's impressive to see them put those kind of numbers up. We made a good respectable run; if he (Kalitta) faltered, we were there. But we weren't in command in the final round."
Look for Dixon and the Miller Lite Dragster to take command when they visit Topeka Kansas (May 22-25th) for the 15th Annual O'Reilly Summer Nationals.
Englishtown, Saturday: Defending NHRA POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon's pass of 4.580 (326.95 seconds) helped him secure a No. 7 qualifying spot for Sunday's elimination round of the 34th annual K & N Filters SuperNationals at Old Bridge Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ.
During the first run, the Miller Lite dragster smoked the tires and produced a
disappointing pass of 53.70 mph/15.295ET. With Friday qualifying rounds rained out, the Don Prudhomme dragster had just two chances to qualify.
"It's not my job to worry about that," Dixon said, referring to the risk of not qualifying. "I have enough to worry about. Getting the racecar from point A to point B the best way possible. Whatever I can to do to help the cause is what I'll do."
Sitting beside Dixon, crew chief Dick LaHaie is quick to emphasize what Dixon is saying. "Did you see the last run we made? There's probably not another driver out there that could have driven through that," referring to the first several feet of the run when the front tires were several inches off the ground.
"He (LaHaie) has faith in me that I'll get down the track," said Dixon. "He has faith in Donny (asst. crew chief) that all the changes he wants done to the car will get done. And Donny has faith in the guys that they'll prepare the car exactly the way he says."
All this talk about faith should come in handy for Sunday final elimination rounds beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Englishtown, pre-race: The 2002 NHRA POWERade defending champion, Larry Dixon and the Miller Lite team are headed for the Englishtown, N.J., hotbed of racing for the 34th annual K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Pep Boys at Old Bridge Raceway Park. Coming off a second consecutive Southern Nationals win in Atlanta, Dixon hopes to keep his winning ways up to date.
Still in the early part of the 2003 POWERade Series, Dixon owns three titles (Pomona, Las Vegas, Atlanta), just two behind where he stood last year. But Dixon and the Miller Lite Dragster would like nothing more than to make it four by racking up another Englishtown title, nine years later from the last, won in 1995.
His career track record at Raceway Park includes the 1995 win, reaching the finals in 2002, a runner-up finish in 1996 and three semifinal efforts (1998, 2000, 2001). During qualifying he has recorded three "poles," a second, two thirds, a fifth, and sixth qualifying result, not to mention the track speed record held at 326.48 mph (May 2002).
At the last 2003 NHRA POWERade Series stop in Atlanta, Dixon took home the Southern Nationals title for the second straight year with a 4.569 second e.t. at 323.89 mph, defeating Darrell Russell's 9.884/107.52, and in the process, regained the points lead.
"I know nobody will believe me," Dixon said, "but I don't really care about the points." And to back up his claim, he recalls a time 16 years ago.
"LaHaie, when he won his championship in 87', he never led the points until the semifinal round of the final race of the year," Dixon said. "Never. He never led it. But that's the time to lead it, right then. That's what I try and think about. It doesn't matter where you make 'em, just so long as you have 'em at the end of the year.
The Miller Lite Don Prudhomme dragster holds 28 career victories and has taken 50 trips to the finals (28 wins and 23 losses). Dixon is currently ranked No.4 all time with 28 Top Fuel wins, is No.1 among active Top Fuel Pilots and sits No.14 on the NHRA's all time win list. He has two No.2 qualifying efforts (Las Vegas, Bristol), three third place notches (Pomona, Gainesville, Houston) and has qualified no worse than fifth this season (Phoenix, Atlanta). It's a long list of accomplishments, but not without an equal number of challenges.
"Everything that's happened in the last month with our team, a lot of ups and downs, and to be able to come back (Bristol crash), it's a great car," said Dixon.
Behind every great car is great driver. Standing beside every great driver is a brilliant crew chief. Aside the driver and crew chief is an exceptional crew. So you see, it's much more than just "a great car," it's a remarkable team that has carried itself along the ups and downs, showing no sign of letting up on the long road ahead.
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