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Two-time NHRA champ excited about 4-wide racing
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Published: March 9, 2010
CONCORD - When it comes to drag racing, Larry Dixon has just about done it all.
In his 15-year career, he has finished atop the NHRA Top Fuel points standings twice and amassed a total of 49 career wins, placing him third all-time in NHRA Top Fuel victories. His career best speed to 1,000-feet is 321.58 mph, a mark he set last year in Pomona, Calif.
He began his 2010 campaign with a victory in the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals, also in Pomona, and sits in third place in the NHRA Full Throttle point standings, trailing Doug Kalitta by 35 points and points leader Cory McClenathan by 40 points.
Dixon said he will add to his list of firsts when the NHRA Four-wide Nationals visit zMax Dragway later this month.
At the event, drivers will make NHRA history when all four professional classes — Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles — race four-wide in a points competition.
"I think the only time I've ever gone four wide in anything was in track in high school," he said during a media day at zMax last week. "I'm ignorant to the whole deal. I didn't even get to see the exhibition last year, so we're just going to go out and see what happens."
While it will be a new racing format, Dixon said his strategy remains the same — beat the competition to the finish line and advance to the next round.
Dixon, who teamed up with Al-Anabi Racing last season, hopes to build on his team's success from the 2009 campaign and notch his first win at zMax. In two previous appearances, he has finished the qualification rounds as the top qualifier, only to be ousted in elimination rounds by the eventual race winners.
"Last year, we had the opportunity to (be successful) and we just didn't do it," he said. "For a first year team, we just kept getting better and better. And we get to the end of the season and lose by two points. Then we get to the first race this year and win, so I'm still excited."
As exciting as the event will be for the drivers, NHRA president Tom Compton said fans are in for a unique experience as well.
"If you've ever stood on the start line with four Top Fuel dragsters — which I did here last September during the exhibitions — it's something you'll never forget," Compton said when plans for the event were first announced in January.
Four-wide racing is why zMax owner Bruton Smith built the drag strip, he added. While Compton expects some drivers to be weary of the new format, it will provide a unique fan experience.
"At the end of the day, it's going to be exciting," said Funny Car driver and 14-time NHRA champion John Force. "You're talking about 30,000 horsepower. You're talking about 1,200 miles per hour out there at the same time.
"It's going to be tough because it's different. But drag racers, we will adapt."
Tickets are still available for the four-day event, and can be ordered by called 704-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com
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