Columbus: Larry Dixon preview

The Dixon Dispatch
Weekly News Realease of Larry Dixon and the Miller Lite Dragster

Father's Day significant to Miller Lite's Larry Dixon.

COLUMBUS, OHIO (June 10) - Defending Pontiac Excitement Nationals Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon reminiscences with fond memories about hanging around his dad's Top Pit area as a youngster. As a child of a drag racer, Larry Dixon Sr., his family, friends and supporters, nurtured him in the NHRA pit area. But the one key element in his life was his dad's influence behind the wheel so that living in those circumstances for most of his life the career choice he decided to pursue later in his professional life isn't a surprise to anyone.

One of the first glimpses the public caught of this promising Top Fuel racer was him sitting on his father's knee at the age of three, celebrating Dixon Sr.'s win in the 1970 Winternationals in Pomona, Ca. "For me growing up in drag racing, the family aspect was really important to me," said Dixon. "That was instilled in me at a young age, so now with my own family when Father's Day rolls around it has more meaning now than ever."

"When we won at Columbus last year, that was my first Father's Day for me," said Dixon referring to his infant son, Donavan. "So, while we're doing the winner circle pictures, I'm holding Donavan and it made me flash back and think about my dad. It just shows me how much drag racing has meant to my family going from generation to generation."

As much as Dixon wants an encore performance in the 2002 Father's Day version of the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway, the Miller Lite pilot has more on his mind - adding points to his NHRA POWERade Top Fuel total.

Dixon is enjoying a record-breaking Top Fuel season. In fact, it's the best ever in the 52-year existence of the NHRA making his rampage even more impressive. To prove the point, Dixon, after his most recent victory at the NHRA Chicagoland Dodge Dealers Nationals two weeks ago at Route 66 Raceway, equaled his win column for the entire 2001 season when he notched his sixth event.

Coming out of the chute and the bombarding the competition with round wins has given the Indianapolis resident a tremendous 203-point lead in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship. What's even more amazing is the incredible 33-4 round win/loss record after the first 10 NHRA events. That astonishing effort surpassed the previous mark set in 1997 set by Gary Scelzi, who accrued a 30-6 record during the same span. In the midst of battle, those are only numbers and the records are nice, but that doesn't win races and Dixon immediately gives credit to veteran crew chief, Dick LaHaie for his outstanding tuning performances giving him his great start.

"All I'm thinking about is the Columbus race," said an enthusiastic Dixon. "We won last year and Dick LaHaie has done extremely well in the past at National Trail Raceway. Between his driving years and working as crew chief on Scott Kalitta's, as well as Doug Herbert's car, he's been in the winner's circle with every team he has worked with. I'm looking forward and excited about going back there because it's a track where we've had performance."

Since the Miller Lite team is slowly approaching the mid-point of the season, the battles are just warming up like the summer heat. He's ramping up his mental thoughts keeping himself clearly focused on the job that's at hand of winning rounds and letting the points fall as they may. And in Dixon's case maybe will hopefully add another Father's Day treasure in his scrapbook.

-www.snakeracing.com