Joliet: Larry Dixon Friday qualifying summary

Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon qualifies No. 6 after first day of action at Dodge Dealers Nationals.

JOLIET, IL (May 31) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon and the Miller Lite Snake Racing Dragster used a lap of 4.624 seconds (318.39 mph) to claim the No. 6 position after the first day of qualifying Friday at the Chicagoland Dodge Dealers Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

Dixon owns a 187-point lead in the championship hunt and enters this weekend looking for his sixth win of the 2002 season. The Miller Lite/Lucas Oil pilot also comes to Illinois aiming for his first career win at Route 66 since the facility opened in 1998. Dixon reached a final round here in 2001 where he posted a runner-up finish to Gary Scelzi.

His march toward a first win at the track began with his 4.62-second lap in the opening session, placing him No. 3 after the round. The second session under the lights featured brilliant header-flames and quick elapsed times. Dixon's second lap was not quite as quick as his first, but provided good data for the remainder of the weekend with a clocking of 4.639 seconds (314.97 mph).

Dixon has qualified no worse than fifth this season (Atlanta) and has six No. 1 qualifying efforts (Pomona, Gainesville, Las Vegas, Bristol, Englishtown, Topeka), a second place effort (Phoenix) and a fourth-place effort this season (Houston). Two qualifying sessions remain on Saturday (12:15 AM & 3:30 PM CT) while Sunday's elimination round is scheduled for an 11 AM CT start.

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