Gainesville: Larry Dixon Friday summary

DIXON SITS SIXTH FRIDAY AT GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2006) -- Two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon raced his Miller Lite dragster to the No. 6 qualifying position Friday at Gainesville Raceway with a 4.618-second pass.

Dixon used a tune-up from first-year crew chief Don Bender to power his Miller Lite dragster to a pass of 4.618 seconds at 316.23 mph to place the 38-time NHRA winner sixth in the Top Fuel order with two qualifying sessions remaining. Dixon's railed lost traction on its opening pass and slowed to a 9.388-second pass.

"They found some problems in the motor and that's why it caused the car to shake the tires on the first run," Dixon said. "They made the proper adjustments and we made a nice run to get in the show. We needed to get the car down the track and get qualified and we did. Donnie (Bender) is very happy with that. Now we can try and press tomorrow."

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