Gainesville: LarryDixon Saturday summary

Dixon Races To No. 5 Spot At Gatornationals GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2004) -- Three-time Mac Tools Gatornationals winner Larry Dixon powered to his best qualifying position of the young 2004 NHRA season Saturday when he drove his Miller ...

Dixon Races To No. 5 Spot At Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2004) -- Three-time Mac Tools Gatornationals winner Larry Dixon powered to his best qualifying position of the young 2004 NHRA season Saturday when he drove his Miller Lite dragster to the No. 5 qualifying position with a run of 4.668 seconds at 306.33 mph at Gainesville Raceway.

On Dixon's first effort of the day, the Indianapolis resident raced to a performance of 4.732 at 280.11 after shutting off before the 1,320-foot finish line because the engine lost power after dropping cylinders. On his final qualifying attempt of the weekend, Dixon, who won his second career NHRA race at Gainesville Raceway in 1995, blasted his Dick LaHaie-tuned rail to the 4.668, 306.33 effort, a weekend-best pass.

"As long as you're qualified, you can win from any position," Dixon said. "I kind of feel confident in what Dick LaHaie is doing with the Miller Lite car. We keep going forward and the car keeps running better."

Dixon, who aims to collect his fourth career Mac Tools Gatornationals victory on Sunday, will face-off with Doug Kalitta in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (ET). Dixon will have lane choice in the opening round. It marks the third consecutive race that the two drivers have met during eliminations.

ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the Mac Tools Gatornationals beginning at 2:30 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 21 and show two hours of final eliminations at 11:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 21.