Reading: Larry Dixon Friday notes

MOHNTON, Penn. (Oct. 5) After the first day of qualifying at the rescheduled 17th Annual Pep Boys Nationals, Larry Dixon drove Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite Dragster to a lap of 4.570 seconds at 317.94 mph to claim the No. 3 qualifying position Friday at Maple Grove Raceway.

Dixon and the Miller Lite team picked up right where they left off last week in Joliet as they produced a pair of quick, 4.57-second qualifying passes Friday as they look to retake the lead in the Winston Top Fuel points race. They enter this weekend's event trailing by just 14 points equating to less than one round of elimination racing. With only four races (16 rounds) left on the 2001 Winston Drag Racing Series schedule, every point counts in both qualifying and on race day.

The Snake Racing pilot kicked the weekend off in the left lane with a lap of 4.579 seconds at 312.50 mph. The car showed the consistency that has become its trademark all year long with its 28th 4.5-second qualifying lap of the season. The pass put Dixon in the No. 2 position after the first session, only .009 seconds behind Mike Dunn (4.570).

The afternoon round saw Dixon pick up the .009 of a second he was missing earlier in the day as he drove to an elapsed time of 4.570 seconds at 317. 94 mph and the No. 3 spot on the provisional ladder. His first lap down the right lane featured the quickest 60-foot time (.838) among the 15-car Top Fuel field and gave the team a great set-up for the remainder of the weekend.

The two remaining qualifying sessions are scheduled for 11:45 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday. Television coverage of Friday and Saturday's qualifying action will be broadcast on ESPN 2 from 1:302:30 AM (ET) on Sunday, while elimination round coverage will air from 8:00-10:00 PM (ET) Sunday on ESPN 2.

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