Larry Dixon

Dixon, a runner-up twice this year, opened with a pair of 4.613s to defeat Paul Romine and Bob Vandergriff Jr. before ripping off a stunning track-record 4.542 to beat Gary Scelzi's 4.569 in a great match.

Hill, who had not been to a final round since this race two years ago, blistered the track through the first three rounds, running 4.61 and two 4.56s to beat Kenny Bernstein, Tony Schumacher, and Doug Kalitta.

Hill looked to have the final round in the bag, leading Dixon at halftrack and preparing to pull away before losing the blower belt and slowing to a 4.69, forced to watch Dixon light the win lamp with a 4.59.

Top Fuel points leader Mike Dunn left with his lead intact despite losing in round one; fortunately for him, second-place Kenny Bernstein also was felled in round one, meaning Dunn heads into Indy with a 19-point lead, or less than a round of racing.

"I saw a whole lot of Eddie Hill and he was pulling away from me," said Dixon, " and then he went away quick. Incredible."

"I got a huge break," Dixon said. "Eddie totally had me covered and I could see a bunch of that Pennzoil car until right near the end of the track when I just slipped by. It takes some luck to win in this sport and I got some in the finals.

"To say I'm ecstatic would be an understatement. It was really nice to move up in the points. We've struggled this summer and after smoking the tires last week in Sonoma, Dale Armstrong took a hard look at the clutch set-up. We then put seven runs together in the 4.60s and 50s and that's what it took to win. The win is sweet, especially for Dale who is making his last go round with the Miller Lite car before moving to Snake's Funny Car. It looks like he wants to make a statement before he leaves."

Hill was disappointed, but nonetheless proud of his team's efforts.

"The car felt really, really strong and I knew I was ahead because I couldn't see him at all," Hill said. "And then we slung the belt just before the 1,000-foot mark. I could already taste the win and I started celebrating in my mind and then 'boom' she quit pulling and I said 'oh no, please don't let this happen.'

"What a gigantic team effort this was. My hats off to every single crewmember we have. These guys were hustling to get us through four rounds today and they did a fantastic job. What a spectacular race car they gave me every run.

"We've had races this year where we were the fastest or the quickest car on any given day. But until now, we were unable to get it all together in the same day. It feels like we've been building towards this and it's very gratifying to go this far. I still believe we have a lot more to show. There is no reason to think we won't pick up right where we left off at the next race in Indy." Top Fuel results

John Force

Winston champ Force added to his already significant points lead in Funny Car with a dominating victory that he sealed with a final-round victory over archrival Whit Bazemore.

Bazemore made it to his fourth straight final round despite battling consistency problems, running just 5.10 in round one to stop Tim Wilkerson's bid for the Winston No Bull Challenge, then shutting off to an 11-second pass when Al Hofmann was a no-show in round two. Bazemore finally showed his qualifying form in the semi's, reeling off a 4.99 to beat Ron Capps, who slowed to a 5.12 after fireballing the Cope Camaro at halftrack.

"We were definitely having problems throughout the day with our car," said Bazemore. "We made a lot of major changes and we thought we had done what we needed to do. But the car didn't have enough snot.

"Going to four finals in a row is awfully nice. When you're able to get good results even when you're struggling, it's good."

Force, meanwhile, was awesomely consistent, running 4.912, 4.902, and 4.910 to send home Dale Creasy Jr., Del Worsham, and Tommy Johnson Jr., whose fine 4.957 was not good enough for a final-round berth.

Force closed one win closer to Bob Glidden's all-time win total of 85, holding off Bazemore's 5.00 with a steady 4.92 for his 78th career win.

"This is a really good bunch of guys I got," said Force. "It was great to get back in the winner's circle. Austin Coil is something else. The money from Ford and Castrol and all that is what it takes but he's really the one behind this deal: him and Bernie (Fedderly) and (John) Medlen. The drivers get all the credit, but it's these crew guys that put it all together. The things they can do with a hot rod are amazing. Lots of credit to the crew chiefs and the guy who puts his hands in that clutch, my son-in-law Robert Hight." Funny Car results

Richardson, who doubled up in Stock and Super Comp at the Sears Craftsman Nationals in June, did it again, driving his I/SA entry to a final-round victory over Nick Folk's G/SA machine in a battle between Camaro convertibles, 12.23 to 11.91. Stock results

Just a few minutes before that victory, Richardson ran an 8.98 on the 8.97 altitude-adjusted Super Comp index to beat Gary Wamboldt, who broke out with an 8.95. The double win was Richardson's fifth of his career. Super Comp results

Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. scored his third win of the 1999 season in Pro Stock, defeating low qualifier Warren Johnson in the final round. Coughlin had run a pair of 7.01s to beat Richie Stevens and Darrell Alderman, and, after a rainshower, Kurt Johnson, 7.098 to 7.163 in the semifinals. W.J. had opened with a 6.96 to beat Tony Gillig, then ran 7.000 to trailer his former crew chief, Greg Anderson, and then a 6.99 to defeat Mark Pawuk's 7.06 in the semifinals.

The final went the other way, though, as, after a short burndown, Coughlin got a holeshot then drove away from a loose Johnson, 7.06 to 7.16.

"I had two gameplans going into the final round," said Coughlin. "One worked out and the better team won at that moment and turned on the win light. I can't say enough about how well our team works together. We're one group working towards one goal: winning." Pro Stock results

Craig Treble

Following a first-round massacre of three of 1999's four Pro Stock Bike winners, Treble and Dave Schultz emerged as the surprise final-round combatants. Winston champ and low qualifier Matt Hines lost on a huge holeshot, 7.55 to 7.35 to Chris Reuter while points leader Angelle Seeling also snoozed, against C.J. Smith, and lost, 7.48 to 7.40. Right after those upsets, Gary Tonglet got a free pass to when two-time 1999 winner Antron Brown slowed to a 23-second effort with a transmission problem.

Schultz, winner earlier this year at the Mile-High Nationals, opened with a 7.41 to beat Ron Ayers, then a pair of 7.378s to beat Tonglet and Tony Mullen, who also lost his bid for the $25,000 Winston No Bull challenge.

Treble's Suzuki, meanwhile, slowed a little in each round, from 7.41 to beat Steve Johnson in round one to a 7.44 against local favorite John Smith and a 7.45 against Greg Underdahl in the semifinals. But the final went to the underdog, 7.44 to 7.53, as Schultz slowed at the top end giving Treble his first career win. Pro Stock Bike results

Reigning Federal-Mogul Dragster champ Rick Santos scored his fourth victory of the season, moving from the No. 1 qualifying position and defeating two-time 1999 winner Rob Wendland, 5.539, 249.53 to 5.664, 250.92, in the final round. Federal-Mogul Dragster results

Larry Miner, denied victory in the final round of Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the Northwest Nationals, struck back just two races later, collecting his first national event victory by defeating first-year FMFC pilot Jay Payne, who also was bidding for his first win in the class. Miner took a narrow win, 5.867 to 5.894. Federal-Mogul Funny Car results

Robert Bailey scored the second Comp victory of his career, upsetting former season champ David Rampy, who had to settle for runner-up for the second straight year at this event. Bailey's A/ED clocked a 6.90 to cinch the win over Rampy, whose B/ED was saddled with a .09-second Competition Index Control penalty yet still managed a 7.15 in defeat. Comp results

Super Stock veteran Ernie Penner scored his first career win, driving his GT/KA Firebird to victory when James Ronzello fouled in his SS/BX entry. It was Penner's first victory in three final-round appearances. Super Stock results

Michael Ricke scored his first career win in Super Gas, running a 10.01 to defeat 1988 Brainerd winner Tom Schmidt, who was second off the line and lost despite a quicker 10.00. Super Gas results